WILLEMSTAD--The owner of Robbie's Lottery is surprised that the company is being targeted in the so-called "Bientu" investigation into money laundering, document forgery, and fiscal fraud.
Robertico "Robbie" dos Santos and his family left the island for a holiday on Monday, a day before the raids on his homes and businesses. Although he has had contact meanwhile with the lawyers engaged by his family, they did not have much to report.
"We spoke with him at length on the telephone," said lawyer Everett Wilsoe. The reaction to the Prosecutor's allegations regarding money laundering and forgery was one of disbelief and denial.
Dos Santos said he could perhaps imagine something along the lines of tax evasion, although he pays his taxes every month. It is not the first time he has dealt with judicial authorities in that regard.
The lawyers had not viewed the Bientu documents yet when they spoke to their client, so it was difficult to paint an accurate picture, said Wilsoe.
He said the fact that the raids had occurred one day after the lottery boss had left the island was a matter of timing: "Sometimes raids run more smoothly when the suspect is not present."
Finance Minister George "Jorge" Jamaloodin, whose name was mentioned because Speedy Security Group also was searched, is also abroad for a scheduled working visit and was not available for comment. However, the prosecution has confirmed that while the company was asked for certain documents pertaining to its money-transport clients, it is not a suspect in the case.
In addition, even before Jamaloodin became minister on behalf of Movementu Futuro K�rsou (MFK), Speedy Security was registered in the name of his father. Jamaloodin is Dos Santos' half-brother.
Wilsoe does not know yet which lawyer will handle what case. Most of the contact is made by telephone now. Apart from Wilsoe's partner Gelmer Pieter, attorneys Kid Martina, Sigmar Carmelia and Wouter Tielkemeijer (a former prosecutor) were called in.
Lawyers Jairo Bloem and Eldon "Peppie" Sulvaran are working on the case in St. Maarten. In a reaction, Bloem said the examining judge had reported at the main office for the raid without an indictment, but that such had been signed earlier.
It was not necessary to close the St. Maarten office in the morning, although this was the case with the main office on Amandelweg in Cura�ao. "The manager and employees gave their cooperation."
As reported, weapons, including firearms, were confiscated during the various house searches in Cura�ao and St. Maarten.
"The confiscation of these weapons has nothing to do with the Bientu investigation. One person was arrested in St. Maarten for illegal arms possession. The suspect J.M.D.C. was handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the St. Maarten Police Force [which has been] entrusted with the investigation," said Officer Guillano Schoop.
Originally, seven addresses were searched in Cura�ao and three in St. Maarten. Computers, laptops, documents, records, data systems and money were confiscated.
The addresses in Cura�ao were the residence of suspect Dos Santos, the residence of co-suspect Kenneth Locadia and office and/or company buildings such as TAM Consultants at Rooi Santu. Authorities also visited Speedy Security and even the home of Dos Santos' mother because it served as the mailing address for several companies.
In St. Maarten, the authorities also paid a visit to Pan American Services that transports the daily yields of the lottery offices. An account with a local bank also was seized.
The authorities did not say how much money had been confiscated. A safe in the main office in St. Maarten was pried open because the key was not available.
The prosecution further mentioned that the Bientu criminal investigation conducted by the Kingdom Detective Cooperation Team RST had been in progress for well over a year. RST is being assisted by the Intelligence and Tracing Team TIO of the Tax Accountants Bureau BAB for the investigation into tax fraud, forgery and money laundering.
RST and TIO received help from Cura�ao Police Force Financial Investigations Bureau tracing officials during the house searches. Apart from suspects Dos Santos and Locadia, several affiliated legal bodies, including Caribbean Investment Group Ltd and Jamaroma Lotteries NV, are considered suspects. It is known that the former is an offshore company domiciled in Anguilla.
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