Prosecution convinced that there will be more arrests as the investigation continues.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The three suspects that were arrested in the Octopus investigation on Wednesday remained behind bars confirmed spokesman for the Attorney General’s office Norman Serphos.
Serphos said that the investigators confiscated computers and documents from the home and office of MP Matser when they searched both locations on Wednesday afternoon.
He said Matser is held for election fraud while the two other suspects Eddie Fleming and Rogilio Koieman were held as accomplices.
As for the female that was arrested at the Ducth Quarter home of Eddie Fleming she was held for possession of 400grams of cocaine. Serphos said the investigators informed him that drugs that was confiscated at E.F’s home and a female was arrested but only later on it they confirmed what type and the amount of drugs that were confiscated and the reason for arresting the female only identified as D.F.
Serphos also told SMN News on Thursday that the prosecution is convinced that they will be making more arrests in the Octopus case and more house searches will take place.
Up to late Thursday afternoon the Prosecution did not take a decision on whether or not they will take MP Silvio Master before the Judge of Instruction to extend his pretrial detention. Spokesman for the Attorney General's Officer Norman Serphos told SMN News late Thursday afternoon that everything remains "status quot"and that a decision will be taken Friday morning as to whether or not the prosecution would ask for extension.
It should be noted that while the Prosecution and the Attorney General Office believes that they did everything according to law, it is yet to be seen how the technicalities will affect the actual court case. The constitution of St. Maarten clearly outlines how an elected official can be arrested. However, the Prosecutor's office did what they believe is right and got the approval of the Appellate Court late Wednesday afternoon to go ahead with keeping MP Matser behind bars and also gave the prosecution the go-ahead to search the MP's home and office. A procedure that was to take place before the actual arrest as stipulated in the country's constitution.
The actions of the prosecutor's office and the office of the Attorney General caused a public outcry since Wednesday since the news broke on the arrest. Several persons within the community have been bombarding the call-in radio programs and SMN News as to the lawlessness that took place with the arrest. Some are even questioning the status of the Masbangu case which the court ordered to be re-tried.
In the meantime, the MP's from the UPP are now trying to see if they will get the present coalition to form a National Government. Sources told SMN News that the UPP who boycotted the budget debate on Wednesday by not signing in for parliament to have a quorum is using the current situation for their own political interest. Sources said the UPP leader approached the current coalition stating that he is willing to form a National Government but demanded that they wanted control over three of the Government owned companies, such as GEBE, PJIAE, and the Harbor Group of Companies (Port of St. Maarten).
