Philipsburg:--- The five women, three of which have been working at the IND building (BTA section) appeared in court on Monday where the prosecution requested eight days extension for all of the suspects who are charged with forging of documents and human smuggling. The suspects, Josianne Cannegieter, Josianne Emmanuel, Pat Romney, Evelyn Hodge and Weisha Alfred were arrested on Friday after police began an investigation into a stolen government stamp.The prosecutor's office said in a press statement on Friday that they conducted seven house searches, including the IND office where monies and documents were confiscated.
Attorney at law Cor Merx representing the BTA project coordinator Evelyn Hodge and Pat Romney told SMN News that the judge released Romney but granted the eight day extension for Hodge. SMN News confirmed that the judge of instruction granted the extension for four of the five suspects while one was released. So far no information on the release of Romney has been made available.
Police escorted three of the suspects during the early afternoon where they heard what they are accused of in the presence of their lawyers and the judge of instruction. Among the first three was Josianne Cannegieter a former executive secretary to former leader of government William Marlin. Two of the suspects hid their faces as they were led inside the court house but Cannegieter looked around and waived relatives and friends who gathered outside the courthouse in her support.Later the project coordinator Evelyn Hodge was taken to the court house dressed in prison garb. Hodge and the other female suspect were shackled together. As Evelyn Hodge dismounted the police vehicle several supporters began shouting out to her telling her she needs to stay strong. The whaling and support obviously gave Hodge some courage as she lifted her head and smiled.
Several onlookers and supporters of Evelyn Hodge screamed out telling her to remain strong as she exited the court house. Hodge on her way out of the court house waived to her supporters telling them she was okay.It has been weeks now information reached the media indicating that crimes are being committed at the IND office and that one particular worker who is now in police custody has been engaging in the selling of predated application forms and numbers. Several persons also said they paid one of the suspects to fill in their application form when the BTA was introduced last year and that the person was charging them monies the minute she began working at IND.
Outside of the courthouse on Monday bystanders and some relatives of the one of the suspects were overheard saying that this person is a known trickster and government should have known better when they hired her to work with immigration papers.