Philipsburg:--- The well known driver of the Minister of Justice Marina Serrant who arrested in the Brooks Tower 2 investigation and recently sent on vacation by the Minister of Justice was one of the two people the Landsrecherche interrogated on Friday. According to well placed sources, Serrant was questioned just after 2pm Friday afternoon. It is not yet clear what role Serrant plays in the Bada Bing investigation. But the detectives at the Landsrecherche probably got indications that Serrant must have information that can assist them in the ORCA (Bada Bing alledged bribery) investigation. The Prosecutor's Office issued a press release after SMN News made two calls to the Attorney General to inquire if the Minister of Justice's driver was one of the persons they interrogated on Friday. The press release which is beneath this article states that the other person that was also interrogated was the Minister of TEATT Romeo Pantophlet.
MINISTER ROMEO PANTOPHLET INTERVIEWED.
On Friday afternoon the Minister of Economic affairs Romeo Pantophlet was interviewed as a witness in the ORCA-investigation into the alleged Bada Bing corruption case.
The Minister was asked about the permits of Bada Bing and the possible involvement of MP Patrick Illidge in obtaining those. The interview lasted 4 hours.
This afternoon the former driver of Minister of Justice Roland Duncan, Marina Serrant, was interviewed as well.
During the days to come more interviews of witnesses are planned.
Press Release from the Prosecutor's Office
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Former Manager of Bada Bing said club owner tapes everyone, especially politicians to keep them in check.
A former manager of the Bada Bing strip club who is currently living off island told SMN News in two Skype interviews between Thursday and Friday that Jaap van den Heuvel is known for taping people entering his strip club.
The former manager said that Bada Bing owner used to tape politicians and other high ranking officials who went to his place of business for special (sexual) entertainment while he was not licensed to operate a house of prostitution. "Several politicians had special privileges because they were allowed to go to the top floor with the girls. What I am telling you is that I saw several persons, I do not want to mention their names because I don't want to smear their images in society, go on the third floor and inside the girls' rooms for sexual favors. Most of this Jaap taped and he kept these tapes to keep politicians in check.
The man said he also witnessed huge arguments between Van den Heuvel and politicians all of which were taped because the cameras inside the establishment are always rolling. "I am a bit ashamed now that I am bringing this to light because several times these politicians and high ranking officials would ask me if those cameras were rolling and I told them "no" because I did not want to blow the whistle on my boss."
When SMN News asked the former manager if he ever witnessed Van Heuvel bribing politicians, he said while he never witnessed such he would not rule it out because on St. Maarten you have to pay for what you want. "Ever since I know myself as a businessman living on St. Maarten you have to pay under the table to get what you want, this is not going on today. Bribery and getting what you want started with the late Claude Wathey so it was something everyone knew on the island, especially investors." When SMN News reporter asked the former manager if he ever saw former Minister of VROMI and UP Leader Theo Heyliger at Bada Bing strip club, the former manager said I never saw him with my two eyes but I know he was there several times. "You know, Theo did not get liver problems just like that, he was drinking and in clubs all the time. Theo began consuming alcohol since he was a teenager and he was allowed in clubs because of his family ties on St. Maarten." SMN News went further and asked the former manager if knew where Jaap van den Heuvel was keeping the tapes that he kept to keep the politicians in check, he said that no one can find those except Jaap. "No one don't even know where Jaap lives, he is a very secretive and slick man. One day he lives here and the other day another place." SMN News also learnt that the police don't even know for sure where the businessman lived, but they searched a location somewhere next to Mary's Boom in Simpson Bay.
