Toachie Meyers : Below I’ve put together a full timeline with photos and real time updates by both the Prosecutor’s Office (OM) and the Official Police Investigators statements. From the arrests on November 1st 2016, the release from jail December 9th 2016.

Full Timeline Arrest, Detention, Release Emerald Criminal Investigation Starring Etienne Toachie Meyers And Friends

DECEMBER 9TH 2016 8:30 PM

Joint Court of Justice suspends pre-trial detention of Pompei-suspects E.R.M and D.F.
The Joint Court of Justice has suspended the pre-trial detention of the suspects in the Pompei-investigation E.R.M. (65) and D.F. (54) based on “personal grounds” of the suspects. They remain suspects in the ongoing investigation and must remain available for the investigators1>. M. and F. appealed the decision of the Judge of Instruction not to suspend their detention. This appeal was handled by the Joint Court of Justice on Tuesday, December 6, 2016. On Friday, December 9, 2016 the Joint Court of Justice rendered this decision.

Toachie

The Prosecutor’s Office also requested the Joint Court of Justice to annul the decision of the Judge of Instruction to suspend the pre-trial detention of a third suspect in the Pompei-investigation, L.M.A.R. (50). The Joint Court of Justice did not grant this request. R. remains a suspect in the ongoing investigation.

DECEMBER 6 2016

Suspect in Emerald-investigation remains in custody

De suspect O.A. (35) in the Emerald-investigation remains in pre-trial detention. The judge of instruction decided this on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 in Curaçao. O.A. was arrested on Monday, November 28, 2016. He is suspected of money laundering, forgery, tax fraud and illegal firearm possession. On November 28, the investigation code-named Emerald started on Sint Maarten. The special anti-corruption taskforce TBO of the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team RST, together with the National Detectives Agency St. Maarten and under the supervision of an investigative judge searched a total of seven (7) premises, including the house of the suspect, the offices of the port authority of Sint Maarten and at a security company.

During the searches documents, digital data carriers and a firearm were confiscated. In addition to the searches five cars and a number of bank accounts, a yacht and the suspect’s house were seized. The authorities on Anguilla, based on a request of Dutch St. Maarten authorities also seized property and bank accounts of the suspect on Anguilla.

The investigation is still ongoing and possible new arrests and/or searches cannot be excluded.

The Emerald-investigation started in April 2016, following reports in the newspapers and questions asked in Parliament about the contract signed between the suspect’s security company the port authority of St. Maarten. During this investigation suspicions arose about tax fraud, forgery and money laundering.

The investigation is part of a joint intensified fight against international fraud and corruption. Corruption and money laundering threatens the security and economy of the countries in the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom. The special anti-corruption taskforce, TBO of the RST, together with the National Detectives Agencies (Landsrecherches) of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Prosecutor’s Office have joined forces to combat corruption.
Orders to recover proceeds of crime fit in within the new policy of the Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor’s Office will be submitting more of such claims.
NOVEMBER 29 2016

NEW UPDATE:
Emerald-investigation into tax fraud, forgery and money laundering continues

The actions on St. Maarten that have been taking place since early Monday morning, November 28, 2016 in the investigation code-named Emerald will continue today November 29. The special anti-corruption taskforce TBO of the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team RST, together with the National Detectives Agency St. Maarten and under the supervision of an investigative judge are searching a number of new premises.

In addition to the searches five cars have been confiscated and a number of bank accounts have been seized. In close cooperation with the authorities on the French-side also a yacht has been seized.

NOVEMBER 28 2016 8:12PM

Update:
Emerald-investigation into tax fraud, forgery and money laundering
House searches and seizures have been taking place since early Monday morning, November 28, 2016 in the investigation code-named Emerald. The special anti-corruption taskforce TBO of the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team RST, together with the National Detectives Agency St. Maarten has searched a number of premises. The house of the suspect and some of his companies have also been searched. A search was also conducted at the offices of the St. Maarten port authority. The searches are still ongoing, and more searches cannot be excluded.
The suspect O.A. (35) from St. Maarten has been arrested this morning. He is currently suspected of tax fraud, forgery and money laundering.
The Emerald-investigation started in April 2016, following reports in the newspapers and questions asked in Parliament about the contract signed between the suspect’s security company the port authority of St. Maarten. During this investigation suspicions arose about tax fraud, forgery and money laundering
The investigation is still ongoing. In addition to the searches a number of bank accounts have been seized. In close cooperation with the authorities on the French-side also a yacht has been seized.
A new update will be made available tomorrow.
The investigation is part of a joint intensified fight against international fraud and corruption. Corruption and money laundering threatens the security and economy of the countries in the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom. The special anti-corruption taskforce, TBO of the RST, together with the National Detectives Agencies (Landsrecherches) of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Prosecutor’s Office have joined forces to combat corruption. Orders to recover proceeds of crime fit in within the new policy of the Prosecutor’s Office. The Prosecutor’s Office will be submitting more of such claims.

NOVEMBER 28 2016 4:16 PM

Update:
Emerald-investigation into tax fraud, forgery and money laundering
As of this morning, November 28th 2016, several searches are being conducted in the investigation code-named “Emerald”. A few moments ago the suspect O.A. (35) from St. Maarten was arrested in this investigation. He is currently suspected of tax fraud, forgery and money laundering
A new update will be made available as soon as possible.
The investigation is part of a joint intensified fight against international fraud and corruption. Corruption and money laundering threatens the security and economy of the countries in the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom. The special anti-corruption taskforce, TBO of the RST, together with the National Detectives Agencies (Landsrecherches) of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Prosecutor’s Office have joined forces to combat corruption.
NOVEMBER 28 2016

Investigation into bribery, tax fraud, forgery and money laundering on Sint Maarten
As of early Monday morning, November 28, 2016 the special anti-corruption taskforce TBO of the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team RST, Led by the investigative judge, started conducting several searches on St. Maarten. The searches are conducted as part of an investigation into bribery, tax fraud, forgery of documents and money laundering.
No arrest have been made so far, but the investigation is still ongoing. It is expected the searches will continue throughout the day. We will give an update as soon as possible.
The investigation is part of a joint intensified fight against international fraud and corruption. Corruption and money laundering threaten the security and economy of the countries in the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom. The special anti-corruption taskforce, TBO of the RST, together with the National Detectives Agencies (Landsrecherches) of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Prosecutor’s Office have joined forces to combat corruption.

NOVEMBER 10 2016

All suspects in Pompei-investigation taken into custody

The suspects E.R.M (65), D.F. (54), L.M.A.R. (50) and R.L.R. (47) who were previously detained in connection with the Pompei-investigation, have now been taken into custody. The Prosecutor requested the suspects to be remanded. The Judge of Instruction on Wednesday, November 9, ordered the suspects to be taken into the custody for eight (8) more days.

This means that according to the Judge of Instruction there are grave presumption against the suspects regarding human trafficking (exploitation of girls working at the brothels – “animeermeisjes”), illegal confinement (locking up the girls), illegal employment and human smuggling. These criminal facts were committed between January 2014 and November 2016.

The suspects were arrested on November 1, 2016. Officers of the Kingdom Detective Cooperation Team, RST, assisted by members of the St. Maarten Police Force, KPSM the Dutch Royal Marechaussee and the National Detectives Agency held searches that day at the brothels El Capitan and Petit Chateau and at E.R.M.’s house.

NOVEMBER 5 2016

Judge deems arrests “Pompei”-investigation lawful

The Judge of Instruction on Friday, November 4, 2016 deemed the detention of the suspects E.R.M (65), D.F. (54), L.M.A.R. (50) and R.L.R. (47) lawful. This means that according to the Judge of Instruction all procedures around the arrest and the detention of the suspects by the police and Public Prosecutor’s Office were followed correctly according to the law.
Officers of the Kingdom Detective Cooperation Team, RST, assisted by members of the St. Maarten Police Force, KPSM the Dutch Royal Marechaussee and the National Detectives Agency held searches at the brothels El Capitan and Petit Chateau and at E.R.M.’s house on Monday, November 1. The suspects were arrested that same day in connection with human trafficking (exploitation of girls working at the brothels – “animeermeisjes”), illegal confinement (locking up the girls), illegal employment and human smuggling in the “Pompei”-investigation. The judgment also means that there is a reasonable suspicion against all the suspects for all these criminal facts. On Thursday, November 3 the Prosecutor had prolonged the detention of the four suspects with eight more days.

NOVEMBER 1 2016

Searches and arrests made in Pompei investigation
Officers of the Kingdom Detectives Cooperation Team, RST, assisted by members of the St. Maarten Police Force (KPSM), the Dutch Royal Marechaussee and the National Detectives Agency held searches on November 1, 2016 at the brothels El Capitan and Petit Chateau including secondary offices. The searches were the result of a lengthy investigation by the RST code named “Pompei”. The searches were led by four Prosecutors and in the presence of an Investigative Judge.
The suspects E.R.M. (65, owner of the brothels), D.F. (54, manager of El Capitan), L.M.A.R. (50 manager of Petit Chateau) and R.L.R. (47, assistant to the management) were arrested in connection with illegal possession of firearms, human trafficking (exploitation), illegal employment and human smuggling. E.R.M.’s house was also searched.
Documents, a firearm and digital data carriers were confiscated. Also, a total of 29 women from the Dominican Republic and Colombia were present. The majority did not have valid permits. They will be handed over to the immigration authorities to be deported.
In connection with efforts to recover proceeds of crime five cars, two boats, four trucks, one backhoe, watches and cash money were confiscated. After all crime does not pay.
In the meantime the Chief Prosecutor asked the Minister of Justice to take into consideration to close the brothels by suspending their business licenses.

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