Philipsburg:--- At least three persons were arrested in the Save A Lot abuse and assault investigation that is currently underway. According to reliable sources, the three persons were arrested shortly after midday on Wednesday. SMN News published an article regarding the beating two workers of Save A Lot store received Monday night by their employers whose names were given as Sammy, Mikey, and Mohamed. The two victims are Omadat Kasinat of Guyana and Muhamed Shuman of Venezuela. Kasinat has been working for Save A Lot Store for four years while Shuman worked for the business located on Bush Road for two years illegally. Just recently the Immigration and Labour Department launched controls and raids at several businesses in search of illegal workers. Somehow those that were conducting the raids missed Save A Lot Store and probably many other stores that are hiring and abusing immigrant workers that are residing on the island illegally. The Minister of Justice Roland Duncan said on several occasions that any businesses caught with illegal workers would face a fine of Naf. 10,000.00.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed on Wednesday that three persons were arrested in the Save A Lot investigation. One of the victims Muhamed Shuman told SMN News on Tuesday that nine persons visited his home at 10pm Monday night and one of them slapped him in the back of his head a few times. The young man who was working and residing on St. Maarten illegally hesitated before he filed a complaint against his intruders and abusers. At this time it is not clear if police will arrest the other six persons that were involved in the incident.
SMN News received an email from one Sami Masoud claiming to be the brother of the Save A Lot store owners. Masoud in his email said he did not think any news agency should have published the story that was published on SMN News without hearing their side of the story. Masoud said he is currently in China but he feels that the people of St. Maarten have a problem because they talk too much without knowing the whole story. Masoud in his explanations said that one of the workers stole more than $20,000 in furniture from them and sold it to other people. He claims that the stealing took place at 6am in the mornings. He said Muhamed stole from the warehouse because he made a copy of the warehouse key so he could have gained access to their warehouse in Cole Bay. He asked if anyone would have liked this to happen to their house or business. Another excuse Masoud gave was that Muhamed Shuman borrowed $5000.00 from the owners of the store claiming that his father was sick but they understand that Muhamed fooled them and he was planning to return to his homeland Venezuela. "Everyone works hard for their monies and they don't like to be fooled." Sami Masoud never denied that the two workers were beaten, he claims that they treated their workers like brothers and instead of being grateful they were stealing merchandize every day from the warehouse.