Marigot:--- The special team of Gendarmes that was brought in from France to investigate the Authorisation d' Occupation Temporaire (AOT) that was issued by the RRR Government to Norbert Luftman owner of SINDEXTOUR has charged third Vice President in charge of Urbanism Guillaume Arnell with fraud, obtaining false documentation, and working together with a head civil servant to collect monies that are not owed to him (Escroquerie et Obtention Frauduleuse de document Administratif Constatant un droit, une identite ou une qualitie, ou accordant une authorization, Concussion par charge de mission de service public, perception indue de droit, impot ou taxe). Also charged is the former head of Urbanism Jose Carti. Carti was charged with fraud and obtaining a false document (Escroquerie and Obtention Frauduleuse de document Administratif Constatant un droit, une identite ou une qualitie, ou accordant une authorization). The Gendarmes also charged Norbert Luftman the owner of SINDEXTOUR with fraud and obtaining false documents (Escroquerie and Obtention Frauduleuse de document Administratif Constatant un droit, une identite ou une qualitie, ou accordant une authorization). The convocation with the charges is linked below this article.
Arnell, Carti, and Luftman have to appear in court on March 21st, 2013 at the Criminal Courts in Marigot. The Gendarmes confiscated the passport of Norbert Luftman and placed him on a bond of Euros 300,000.00 as a guarantee that Luftman cannot leave the territory. Luftman was also ordered to stay away from both victims Cohen and Just and he is not allowed to enter either of his victims' businesses that are located on Orient Bay.
The investigation started some months ago when the owner of Bikini Beach Elisa Cohen and the owner of Kontiki Beach Phillipe Just filed a complaint against the Collectivity of St. Martin for denying them an AOT even though they submitted their request way before Norbert Luftman. Cohen told SMN News on Friday that the Gendarmes held the third Vice President Guillaume Arnell at least three times, twice Arnell was placed in garde à vue and now he is under judicial control, she said Carti and Luftman were also placed in garde à vue when the investigation was going on while the President of the Collectivity of St. Martin Alain Richardson was heard as a witness in the case because he has a moral responsibility, the gendarmes believe that he probably suffered prejudice at the hands of his employees and those in his cabinet. It should be noted that the DGS of the Collectivity of St. Martin Pascal Avern was also held and several other Collectivity workers were heard many of whom it is understood were placed in garde à vue. Among those heard is former Vice President Pierre Alliotti.
Cohen said both her and Just filed a claim for damages they suffered from September 19th, 2012 to present. Cohen said the Prosecutor handling the case will be presenting their civil case at the same time when he is presenting the criminal case on March 21st, 2013. Cohen said she estimated her loss at about Euros 200,000.00 while she will be claiming damages for undue stress, for her employees and herself.
When asked if Norbert Luftman won the case that he filed in the court of commerce in order to evacuate them from AW33 on Orient Bay, Cohen said that the court was supposed to deliver its verdict since February 5th, 2013 but to date her and her lawyer have not received a written verdict from the court. Cohen said if the verdict is not their favor they will appeal the decision because that is within their rights. She further explained that the criminal case that will be heard on March 21st, 2013 shows that the AOT given to Luftman was not done in accordance with the law.
Click here to view the three convocations and the charges.
