PHILIPSBURG:--- The long awaited Piranha investigation involving former Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto will be going before a judge in the Court of First Instance this Thursday. The hearing this Thursday is to allow the defense to indicate whether or not they want to hear more witnesses and determine how both the prosecution and defense should proceed with the actual court case.
The owner of Global Advisory Roberto Gibbs was arrested in 2013 when the Piranha investigation started, he spent some eight days in pretrial detention. In December 2013, former Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto was also arrested but he was released on Christmas Eve day. It is alleged that Global Advisory billed the Government of St. Maarten twice for the services they provide to government. It is also alleged that the former Minister of Finance who was appointed by the United People's Party was fully aware of the double billing by Global Advisory, therefore he is charged as an accomplice to the crime committed by Global Advisory. Below is a press release from Prosecutor Tineke Kamps regarding the Piranha court proceedings that will take place on Thursday.
On April 24, 2014 starting 9:00am the investigation named "Piranha" will be presented to the Court in Sint Maarten. The investigation relates to possible fraudulent transactions that may have cost the country Sint Maarten over 235,000 guilders. The Landsrecherche completed the investigation on June 23, 2013.
Summoned for the court hearing is Mr. R.A.G., who is suspected that his company Global Advisory Services NV wrongly submitted bills of the said amount. In addition, former Finance Minister H. S. is summoned. He would have made it possible that R.A.G. could favor himself with money of public funding.
The court hearing of April 24, 2014 will be a so-called "regiezitting". During that hearing the defense can request further investigation actions. The Public Prosecutors Service expects an actual court hearing at the end of this year.
Press Release from the Public Prosecutor's Office
