St. Maarten Private Eye

From the SMN News Website

Secretary Grilled as Witness--- House and Office searched, computers and documents seized

Philipsburg: --- Federal detectives along with prosecutor Martin Hemelaar and a local judge went early yesterday morning to the Oyster Pond home of former Chief Commissioner of Police Derrick Holiday and arrested him for his involvement into forged documents. Holiday was removed from his position as Chief Commissioner of Police last week, according to Minister of Justice David Dick said that Holiday has been reassigned to work on organizing the judicial system for country St. Maarten. Something which turned out to be completely contrary to what the Minister said both by telephone interviews and a press release on Monday evening. SMN News contacted the minister for a comment on his earlier statements compared to yesterday’s development, but the minister said he is not the one to speak on such matters. He however, promised to send out another press release which would indicate when he would speak on the case.

Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands Taco Stein

Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands Taco Stein confirmed the arrest to SMN News yesterday midday. Stein said that Holiday was arrested at 6:45am and he was taken directly to the Pointe Blanche Prison where he is being interrogated by the federal officers who have been working on the case for quite some months. He said that there are federal detectives on the island who have been conducting a long term investigation which has been going on several months into the immigration chain. Stein said that Holiday was suspected of forging a number of immigration documents to which he will be interrogated. Asked how long he intends to keep Holiday in custody Stein said that the general procedures are being followed, meaning after the arrest Holiday was arraigned before a senior police officer and after six hours a decision will be taken if he has to stay longer in custody. If the detectives find that it is necessary to keep the former top cop much longer they will then keep him for two days before taking him before the judge of instruction where the prosecutor will seek their first eight-day extension. Stein did not want to say what are some of the items that were seized during the search of Holiday’s home and office but confirmed that both location was indeed searched.

By 2pm yesterday Stein confirmed that they have extended the detention of Holiday which will run for the next two days.

Federal Detectives leaving police station with seized items yesterday, in the presence of prosecutor Hemelaar

In the meantime, SMN News were on the scene yesterday morning when prosecutor Martin Hemelaar and several detectives left the police station with a black computer CPU, a cartoon box containing documents as well as several files. The officers also took along with them the former top cop secretary B.H to the prosecutor’s office where she was being questioned and released late in the afternoon.
Stein confirmed that they indeed questioning B.H as a witness yesterday.

In earlier reports SMN News reported that a Dominican national was arrested after he was caught with a false reentry permit bearing Holiday’s signature. According to sources the man revealed information as to how he obtained the falsified document. Other sources claim that convicted commissioner of police Marcel Loor gave statements that incriminated Holiday in other wrong doings concerning the reentry permits that were made in the old file format. The source further say that most of the migrants who were granted the forged document made declarations to the investigating officers which led to yesterday’s arrest. Holiday who is also president of the St. Maarten Cricket Association was suspected of allowing illegal immigrants to represent St. Maarten overseas. The last incident took place in July when two 12 year old cricketers were detained when they were returning from playing in the first U-13 match in Anguilla. One of the youths was deported while the parents of the other youth have taken the case to court.

This media house also reported that Holiday was collecting house rent allowances while living in his own home, the prosecutor did not say if they intended to charge Holiday with any of the suspected crimes which led to the indictment of convicted police commissioner Marcel Loor.

Dick Said Prosecutor is the Only Body to Answer Questions on Holiday’s Detention

Minister of Justice David Dick in a press release sent out yesterday afternoon said that the Public Prosecutor is the only body that may give out any information regarding the arrest of former commissioner of police Derrick Holiday. He said as far as process is concerned he expressed hope that the detention is short-lived and that clarity will be soon made.

Minister Dick said that as far management of the police force is concerned with St. Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius and the related development, he said he will be available for statements latest Friday February 8 2008.

He made an appeal to the general public not to speculate around this matter and to avoid any further damage to any person, agency or country or to the island.

add new comment