News that the Joint Court had given permission to prosecute Member of Parliament (MP) Theo Heyliger spread like wildfire Tuesday afternoon. It regards the “Catfish” probe into suspected bribery between 2012 and 2013.
Then-Member of Parliament (MP) Romain Laville, who left the United People’s (UP) Party headed by Heyliger to go independent and help form a different coalition at the time, had basically accused Heyliger of trying to buy him back and thus again force a change in government. However, Laville later withdrew that complaint when he joined the ranks of a new, UP-led combination after all.
An investigation was nevertheless opened and what’s happening now is the result of that process during which Heyliger was interrogated a year ago. The court’s blessing to file criminal charges against legislators is required based on a stipulation in the constitution that can’t be found in those of the other two Dutch Caribbean countries Aruba and Curaçao.
Some had questioned the latter as too much protection for elected representatives, but up to now such requests have always been granted and in this manner at least the public is made aware. It must also be said that St. Maarten has the only constitution within the Kingdom of the Netherlands whereby a parliamentarian is suspended once in pre-trial detention rather than needing to wait for an irrevocable sentence with no appeal possibility left.
Mind you, that has not happened so far in other cases involving local legislators Patrick Illidge and Silvio Matser, while there is no immediate reason to assume it will now. In fact, when and if Heyliger is to appear before a judge to answer to the allegations has not been yet determined.
Let justice run its course.
