Court told Latvian couple
laundered at least $11M
PHILIPSBURG--A 51-year-old man from Latvia and his 48-year-old wife may be sent to jail for seven years and six months for forgery and money laundering. The prosecutor considered it proven that they had laundered at least US $11 million, he said Wednesday during their trial.
Prosecutor Maarten Hemelaar further stated that a separate financial investigation had been launched to seize the suspects’ assets, because these could have been obtained through criminal activities.
He requested the judge to confiscate $6.6 million, real estate, three cars – including a Hummer and a BMW, a $500,000 boat, and jewellery.
S.S. and G.S., who were both flown in Wednesday from Curaçao where they had been detained, were charged with five crimes: the use of false documents, possession of false passports, forgery, money laundering and the possession of firearms.
The Latvian couple, who were convicted in Canada of using false passports in 2000, came to St. Maarten in November 2001. They obtained a temporary residence permit while allegedly making use of false (travel) documents and false identities, the prosecutor stated. “They tried to start a new life here under a false name,” Hemelaar said.
He also accused them of having used forged certificates of deposit, bank statements, letters and other documents of three Canadian banks. These documents were used between January 2002 and June 2007 to launder large sums of money: $6,660,600 and 1,374,722 euros.
This was a smooth operation of an “incredible dimension,” the prosecutor said. “The money came in and the documents went out, and vice versa.”
Both suspects were also found in the possession of firearms with ammunition. A 30-calibre shotgun, a 12-calibre hunting rifle, and an 11.6mm revolver were found during a search of their $1.5-million-dollar residence.
The prosecutor sought to support his case with evidence that had been compiled through wiretapped telephone conversations, e-mail messages and confiscated documents.
The Latvians maintained their innocence, stating they had not made the travel documents themselves, but had obtained them through an agency.
Judge Rick Smid, who presided over the case, questioned this statement, because to his knowledge passports could only be obtained legally via the civil registry, an embassy or the courts, “but not on the streets.”
He further found it remarkable that in the suspects’ house were found not only false passports, but also stamps that were used to print false entry stamps in the travel documents.
Both suspects denied they had been involved in large-scale money laundering. “We have been hardworking and professional businesspeople for 28 years,” S.S. said. They were active in worldwide investment and financial advice through their two Anguilla-based companies, he said.
His wife G.S., the alleged brain behind the operations because she had working experience in banking, told the judge she had been very upset when all their possessions were seized by the police, “my family jewellery and personal clothing included,” she said.
Attorney-at-law Eldon Sulvaran stated forgery and money laundering could not be proven. “This case is based on assumptions,” he said, contending that not even the Canadian banks had filed complaints against his clients. He said his clients should be acquitted.
He further stated that the Prosecutor’s Office had violated the law in 11 aspects in its case against his clients. Their detention and treatment were “illegitimate and inhumane,” Sulvaran said. According to him, this could only lead to the court declaring the prosecutor’s case against his clients inadmissible.
He further indicated that the financial claim against his clients was too high. Sulvaran told the court his clients had already been wealthy when they arrived on the island and he therefore requested limiting the amount of seized assets to $4 million.
Judge Smid will give his decision on November 7.
