Philipsburg: --- The prosecutor's office has sent an official letter to Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran informing him that the Prosecutor's Office would not prosecute detective Carlton Philips for alleged criminal acts he committed some seven years ago when he was working for the Criminal Intelligence Department (CID).However, they also informed Doran that it is up to the Police Department to take disciplinary measures against Philips for the statements he made in the media about the police management team, thereby harming the image of the police.
SMN News learnt that the Prosecutor's Office also indicated to Doran that the prosecutor's office would not be working with Philips unless he makes an open apology for the statement he made against a member of the Public Prosecutor's office.
During the month of September Detective Philips sent an open letter to the media explaining that the police management team accused him of destroying evidence while he was head of that department. Philips said ever since he solved a double murder case, which had involved the son of one of his colleagues he suffered discrimination from the police management team. The detective also accused members of the police management team of self-enrichment.
Sources told this reporter that Doran did not inform Philips about the decision taken by the Prosecutor's office. SMN News learnt that Philips was assigned to work on one of the ongoing murder investigations. It is understood that one day after working on the case Philips was told that the prosecutor's office would not be working with him and that he was taken off the case. The source said Philips requested that he be notified of the decision in writing which was eventually given to him.
SMN News also learnt that the Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba has also invited Philips to Curacao and that he is expected to travel there sometime this week. It is still not clear if the KPSSS intends to take disciplinary measures against Philips since an investigation to clear his name was conducted by the Police Internal Affairs. So far the report on that investigation remains secret and Philips neither his lawyer was not made aware of the conclusions of the investigation which took place during the month of October 2009.
In an invited comment, Prosecutor Rienk Mud said the Prosecutor's Office decided not to launch a criminal investigation against Philips now. The facts happened years ago and it was already decided then not to pursue a criminal investigation. Mud further explained that on his own request Philips left the CID seven years ago to go and work for the Detective Department. With that move, the case was considered closed and no disciplinary measures were taken either.
The prosecutor said it is the opinion of the Prosecutor's Office that Philips should make a public apology with regards to the disqualifying remarks he made about a member of the Public Prosecutor's Office, before they can resume any working relations with him.
In an invited comment Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba confirmed that she indeed invited Philips to meeting however, she was not willing to say what the meeting is about since it had not taken place yet.
SMN News also contacted the attorney at law Reynold Groenveldt who said he is currently working towards finding the root cause of the reaction from the Public Prosecutor's Office. Groenveldt said that so far his client neither him has received a copy of the letter that was sent to the Assistant Chief Commissioner Ademar Doran by the Public Prosecutors Office. Groenveldt said that unless he gets that letter he would not be able to comment on the case.