Police arrests generate talk
in St. Maarten and Curaçao
PHILIPSBURG--The arrest of two local police officers has gained island-wide attention and popped up in Curaçao newspapers, while the investigation is still being conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office, which gave the authorization for the arrest of the suspects for alleged extortion.
Meanwhile, other reports are surfacing from witnesses who said they were victimized by at least one of the police officers, who in one case may have solicited sexual favours in exchange for their freedom.
However, Prosecutor Johan de Vrieze said there was no indication that this occurred, and such matters ought to have been reported to the Prosecutor’s Office.
He said that the Prosecutor’s Office had been informed of some irregularities where the officers were concerned and, based on discussions with the police, a decision was made to arrest both officers and the Chinese businessman. He said no further arrests were expected, and declined to comment on the sum of money involved in the extortion probe.
The two police officers were identified as Brigadier J.A. and Corporal A.C., both of whom worked for the Surveillance Department and were part of the December Zero Tolerance Unit.
They were detained this weekend along with a civilian, a Chinese national who owns a bar and a supermarket in Philipsburg, who was reportedly used as the translator to explain to the Chinese victims what was required of them in exchange for their freedom.
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