PHILIPSBURG: --- Former Member of Parliament, leader, and founder of the United Saint Maarten Party (USP) Frans Richardson has to report to the Pointe Blanche Prison on Monday, March 10th, 2025.
SMN News understands that Richardson was informed that he must report to prison to begin serving the 20-month prison sentence that was confirmed by the Supreme Court on June 6th, 2024.
The Supreme Court in The Hague has confirmed the conviction of former parliamentarian Frans Richardson for accepting bribes and committing money laundering and tax fraud. The verdict issued by the Common Court of Justice on June 6, 2022, became irrevocable in June 2024 but only now has the Prison management made space for the politician and former Member of Parliament.
Richardson has to spend 20 months in prison (with a deduction for time already served) and a 5-year ban on his right to be elected.
Richardson filed for cassation at the Supreme Court against his 2022 conviction but to no avail. The highest court in the Kingdom dismissed all arguments of his attorney,y Sjamira Roseburg.
The conviction is associated with Richardson accepting $370,000 in bribes in exchange for his support for a dredging project at the port of St. Maarten, money laundering, and tax fraud.
The bribes were deposited in Richardson's bank accounts in Anguilla. During an interrogation, he confessed that he had withdrawn the money in cash and spent it. Because he did not report the bribes, the associated interest income, or the balance of his Anguilla-based bank accounts on his tax returns, the court also sentenced Richardson for tax fraud.
Richardson was arrested on February 14, 2018, and (after four interrogations) released again on February 23. The Court, in the First Instance, heard statements from sixteen witnesses between June 11, 2018, and November 2019. The court sentenced the former parliamentarians on January 29, 2020. Richardson appealed the verdict the same day. The court of appeals sentenced him on June 21, 2022.
Richardson was also convicted by the Court of Appeals in the Aquamarine case, he received a 19 month prison sentence and another 5 years election ban.
The Aquamarine involves the Bureau Telecommunication and Post (BTP) building and its maintenance contract.
Richardson was also condemned to pay back Naf 193,000, which he had illegally obtained.
The former Member of Parliament has since appealed that verdict and is awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court.
