Philipsburg: ---- Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba has placed Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Richard Panneflek to the disposition of the Island Government for another year. SMN News learnt that Panneflec sent the Minister of Justice a letter sometime last week telling her that the agreement he had would have expired on February 1 2010 and he intended to report back to work as Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police on that date. Sources say when the Minister received that letter she immediately prepared a decree telling Panneflec that he is placed to the disposition of the island government for another year.
SMN News further learnt that Panneflec had sent a letter to Minister Jacoba shortly after she took office indicating to her that he had completed the task required of him by the executive council (Island Government) and was ready to return to the police force but she never replied to his letter.
Sources say that one of the reasons the Minister of Justice cannot readily accept Panneflec back in the force is because former Minister of Justice David Dick had placed Assistant Chief Commissioner of Police Ademar Doran illegally in a position that was not legally available. It is understood that Panneflec is currently in scale 16 and Doran is also in the same scale. The source said if Panneflec is to return to the police force then he would have to be promoted to scale 17 that are currently being held by Former Chief Commissioner of Police Derrick Holiday. SMN News learnt that the illegal adjustments were made during the last two weeks of the former Minister's tenure.
In the meantime, former Minister of Justice David Dick did publish the vacancy of Chief Commissioner of Police, which was contested by Holiday in a court of law.
In an invited comment Panneflec said he discussed the matter of his disposal to the island government for another year with his legal representative. He said based on the complexity of the case he is not in a position to divulge much information. SMN News also learnt that members of the NABP are scheduled to arrive on St. Maarten this Wednesday where they would discuss the matter with the management team of the Police Force St. Maarten (KPSSS). SMN News learnt that the NABP representatives would also be discussing the issues surrounding detective Carlton Philips and the prosecutor's office.
Several efforts to contact Minister Jacoba by phone on Monday proved futile even though she is currently on St. Maarten.
