Detectives question Laveist,
search his home and office
~ Commissioner suspected of forgery ~
COLE BAY--The much-talked about investigations into the activities of Commissioner Louie Laveist took a menacing turn yesterday when detectives searched his Cole Bay home and his office at the Government Administration Building and removed books, computers and documents.
The current Commissioner of Labour, Youth and Culture is being investigated on suspicion of forgery.
Laveist, a former one-term Member of Parliament who is currently serving his third term as a commissioner in the Island Government, was also reportedly escorted from his home early yesterday and questioned by detectives.
Four plainclothes detectives were seen leaving Laveist’s Cole Bay home with boxes which they placed in their motor vehicle which had been parked outside the commissioner’s yard.
Reports quickly spread locally, on the Internet and in Curacao that the commissioner, who is currently locked in a battle with his colleagues in the Executive Council over his desire to have the head of the Island Labour Department removed and replaced, had been arrested, but subsequent reports indicated that while he had been questioned, he had not been arrested.
The commissioner himself was present for the opening of yesterday’s sitting of the Island Council. He was seen leaving the premises during the morning, but returned to participate in the council meeting during which he acknowledged the many calls he said he had received from friends and well-wishers. He also thanked the callers for their expressions of concern and for their prayers.
A tersely worded statement issued by the Prosecutor’s Office yesterday said: “This morning, October 20, 2008, at 8:00am under the supervision of the Investigating Magistrate, a search was conducted at the home of Commissioner L.L. in regard to suspicions of forgery. The investigation is (being) conducted by the Federal Detectives (Landsrecherche) under the authority of the Public Prosecutor.
“This same morning, searches have started at other locations in this investigation. In view of the sensitivity of this investigation, no further information will be given at this moment.”
