~Sick trick did not fly in court, Court Hearing May 27th~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Suspended Member of Parliament Theodore Heyliger will have to spend the next 30 days in pretrial detention even though he is currently hospitalized at the St. Maarten Medical Center.
The Judge of Instruction ruled today that Heyliger will remain in pretrial detention as the case against him will be brought to court on May 27th, 2019.
On Wednesday and Thursday doctors were called to the Pointe Blanche Prison to examine Heyliger who is suffering from gout and his doctors advised that he be taken to SMMC for further medical treatment. On Thursday an ambulance went to the Pointe Blanche Prison to take Heyliger to SMMC but he refused to go since he did not want to leave the prison in handcuffs. Late Thursday afternoon Heyliger was transported to SMMC by a K-9 vehicle. Currently, he is treated for kidney stones and if the treatment does not work as expected then he will undergo surgery on Monday.
Pre-trial detention T.H. extended by 30 days
Today, the examining judge decided that the pre-trial detention of T.H. will be extended by 30 days.
The case against T.H. and three of his co-suspects will be treated in public on May 27, 2019, for the first time. That will happen in the Courthouse in Sint Maarten.
The Public Prosecutor's Office is strongly contradicting what has been said in some media that they opposed the transport of T.H. to a hospital.
If they had checked with the Public Prosecutor's Office, they would have been told that the suspect - who was transferred to Point Blanche at his own request - like all suspects placed there, has access to the necessary medical care. If this involves an examination by a doctor outside the hospital, the suspect will be brought there. This is done in the same way for each suspect, that means in handcuffs. The director of the prison gives the order and not the Public Prosecutor's Office. Until yesterday, the suspect has always indicated that he did not want to be transported in handcuffs.
Prosecutor's Office Press Release.
