PHILIPSBURG:--- Demissionary Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis has ordered the suspension of former acting head of the Landsrechereche Chief Inspector Lucy Gachette as of Monday, September 16, 2024. Gachette was suspended with pay as the internal investigation heightened.
Gachette took the government of St. Maarten to court on Friday, September 13th, 2024, when she asked that the internal investigation against her person be sped up.
SMN News learned that the Minister of Justice Lyndon Lewis appeared with a government attorney and agreed to speed up the investigation. It is understood that when an internal investigation occurs, the person or persons involved, or the investigation is against, cannot be on the job. `
In May 2024, Minister Lewis removed the acting head from the position because, according to the Minister, the position did not exist. Since then, the position has been opened, and persons interested can apply.
Chief Inspector Lucy Gachette served as Acting Head of the Landsrecherche for the past 12 years.
In May, the Minister told SMN News that when Chief Inspector Gachette was removed from her position, she did not suffer any losses. He said the removal as temporary head was to facilitate an in-depth investigation since the country’s security was threatened.
Lewis further explained that the position of “head” of the Landsrecherché had opened several times, and Gachette did not apply for it.
On Monday, the Minister said in an invited comment that his safety had been threatened by persons close to the Chief Inspector. He said information relating to the case has also been leaked to third parties. Minister Lewis said he was confronted on the French side of the island by persons close to the Chief Inspector and the same person he said approached him again since the court case on Friday.
The Minister made clear that the Chief Inspector was asked to stay off the property while the investigation intensified. He said she was asked not to report to duty, but that did not affect her salary and other benefits.
