Philipsburg: --- Sir Robert Velasquez better known as Bobby Velasquez would have to spend the next eight days behind bars as Judge Van Veen has decided to grant the prosecutor their request to extend Velasquez time in pre-trial detention as detectives investigate the case. Attorney at law Jairo Bloem said that the extension was not granted based on the evaluation of the files instead the judge only needs one statement which would classify the person as a suspect. Bloem said based on the judicial system the public prosecutor gets the opportunity to request two days extension, then eight days so that the detectives could investigate the case. He said during these days there is no evaluation of the facts of the case. "At this time the public prosecutor only have to provide grounds to do an investigation and say they have reasonable suspicion against anyone to keep them behind bars." Bloem said.Bloem said it is extremely exceptional that the judge would rule against the office of the public prosecutor in this phase of the investigation. He said that in 99.9 % of all cases the extensions granted and the suspect would be released prior to the ten days if the public prosecutor does not agree. This does not say absolutely anything on whether or not someone is guilty. It does not even mean that there are concrete indications that a person might have committed a crime.
Velasquez was taken before the judge of instruction just before midday on Friday. Strangely the judge did not make his ruling known immediately on whether or not he would have extended the pretrial detention, as is customary.
Attorney at law Jairo Bloem told SMN News outside the courthouse after the procedural hearing that the judge would have rendered his verdict by 2pm on Friday.
Bloem later notified SMN News that judge Van Veen ruled that Velasquez would have to remain behind bars for the next 8 days just like any other suspect.
He said the detectives neither the prosecutor's office did not invite his client to the police station to question him prior to his arrest. Bloem said that in modest opinion the documents in the present file contains enough indication that justify an acquittal, if his client would be charged of having committed an offense. He stated that there are crucial contradictions the story of the alleged victim. He also confirmed that the police are presently questioning the witnesses that Velasquez provided to them to substantiate his story. He said he felt the measures used against his client are rather unnecessary but it is a prerogative of the public prosecutor office. Bloem said in his sincere opinion he believes that after the police finish questioning Velasquez they should set him free as they continue to investigate case since this alleged incident occurred more than two months ago. Bloem said even if the judge wanted to release his client it would be very difficult for him to do so based on what the law prescribes. It basically takes within our judicial system a public prosecutor to believe the complaint of one person, even if that complaint is only substantiated by what the persons says and has told to third parties, without any shed of additional proof, to lock someone up for ten days. One would hope that consideration is given to the consequences for a person, especially when dealing with persons that have earned their stripes in society.Asked if his client has filed any counter claim regarding the alleged extortion of 1.5 million dollars against the alleged victim, Bloem said his client did not file any counter claim as yet however, his client is considering to file a complaint against the person who filed a false complaint against him.
The alleged victim in this case is the great niece of the alleged suspect. However, at the police station on Friday there were two of Velasquez sisters one carrying a poster saying "Bobby your sister is standing behind you 110%". Rosemarie Velasquez told SMN News that this ordeal is tearing the entire family apart. She said she knows her brother and she also know that he did not touch anyone inappropriately. Also speaking to SMN News was Catherine Hodge another sister of Bobby Velasquez, who wanted to know why SMN News published the incident that occurred 27 years ago, claiming the life of Velasquez 6 year old daughter.
