Lawyers question how prosecutor
will prove Loor committed forgery
PHILIPSBURG--It’s still not clear how the Prosecutor’s Office will prove that Police Commissioner Marcel Loor has committed forgery by signing a (re-)entry permit, Loor’s lawyers Richard Gibson and K. de Vries argued on Friday. The lawyers also said that the suspicion of bribery is based on statements by only one witness.
On Friday, the Judge of Instruction decided that Loor, suspected of forgery, bribery and money laundering, will remain in pre-trial detention for a period of 60 more days. But before he took his decision, Loor’s lawyers made a strong appeal for their client’s release.
Another part of the investigation against Loor concerns the manner he obtained his assets. The lawyers said Loor neatly saved his money over the years, something he had already explained during his interrogation.
Based on this, the lawyers concluded that there was no reason to suspect their client of money laundering.
According to Gibson and De Vries, there were no serious complaints against their client so there was no reason to detain Loor any longer. And even if there were serious complaints, there was still no reason to extend his imprisonment with 60 more days, the lawyers stated.
“There is no threat of Loor leaving fleeing the country. He has been living on St. Maarten with his children for years. He is a respected citizen and has a long-lasting relationship with the society,” the lawyers pointed out. They added that Loor was willing, for example, to report once a week to the police station or the prosecutor’s office. He was also willing to hand in his passport.
Furthermore, the lawyers said, Loor did not pose a threat to society, a factor that would make his pre-trial detention necessary. His being released pending his court case wouldn’t be a shock to the society either, the lawyers alleged.
Finally, the lawyers said that it was no longer necessary to keep Loor behind bars in order for investigators to find out the truth. Truly, their client has already given extensive statements to the investigators.
