~ Leaves reputations of former suspects damaged ~
PHILIPSBURG--The Prosecutor’s Office OM has announced the discontinuation of the “Helsinki” investigation, which had been probing fraud and corruption allegedly involving project developer Ted Richardson and financial consultant George Willems. This decision comes over two years after both men were implicated in the investigation, which centred on the operations of utilities company GEBE.
The OM’s decision was made after a critical review of its own actions, ultimately concluding that the investigation could no longer continue. Richardson and Willems learned of the news through the media before receiving a letter from the Prosecutor’s Office on Friday. “The letter was vague,” Richardson said on Sunday. “I still do not know what acts I am alleged to have committed that led to the prosecutor’s investigation. The letter does not provide any justification.”
The “Helsinki” investigation had begun with raids on the homes of both Richardson and Willems in St. Maarten, and Richardson’s home in Curaçao by the Kingdom Detective Cooperation Team RST in late 2022. Their phones, computers and personal documents were seized during the raids. They were informed they were under suspicion for fraud and embezzlement at GEBE, despite never having worked there.
In a December 20, 2022, interview with “The Daily Herald”, just one day after their homes were raided, Richardson and Willems expressed their frustration. “Our names are being trampled on and thrown in the dust,” Richardson said, clearly shaken by the events that had unfolded. While he was in St. Maarten, the RST had woken up his wife in Curaçao at dawn and raided their home. “I asked her if the RST had presented a search warrant. But they had not.”
Both Richardson and Willems pointed out that they had no connection to the alleged crimes at GEBE and had never worked for the company, yet they were labelled as suspects without any credible evidence to support the accusations.
Richardson, a former Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT), explained that after leaving St. Maarten for Curaçao, he had returned to his family home in Middle Region to care for his elderly mother, who passed away a few months later. He emphasised that he had been involved in personal projects unrelated to politics or GEBE.
The Prosecutor’s Office had authorised the search of Richardson’s home in Middle Region on suspicion of “forgery” and “intentional money laundering” from January 1, 2016. However, the authorisation did not specify in what capacity Richardson allegedly committed these crimes or identify the company, organisation or agency involved.
Richardson questioned the lack of clarity, saying, “Doesn’t one need credible evidence or reasonable suspicion to be labelled a suspect?” He added that he was never informed about the specific nature of the fraud or money-laundering allegations.
“Where are the indications that I received anything wrongfully? And from whom? Where? How?” he asked. Richardson’s enquiries into the specifics of the investigation were met with vague responses from the detectives. He was told that the officers could not provide any additional information beyond what was written in the search warrant. This lack of clarity led Richardson to wonder how such serious allegations could be made without any clear connection to a criminal act.
Willems, on his part, shared his own concerns over the investigation. At the time he had applied for the position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at GEBE but had not been hired when the investigation was in full swing. Willems made it clear that he had never worked at GEBE and was still in the process of being screened for the position. He further noted that his only connection to GEBE was his application for a job there, which had included Richardson as a reference.
“I have not yet been hired by GEBE. I am still in the screening process and have not worked a single day at the company,” Willems explained at the time. He also cited a letter from the National Security Service Sint Maarten VDSM, which apologised for exceeding the legal term for the screening process. Willems revealed that he had filed an objection to the delay because it was preventing him from securing income and providing for his family.
Despite the protracted nature of the screening process, Willems said that he was still waiting for a final decision from GEBE. The prolonged delay had placed him in a difficult financial situation, leading him to take matters into his own hands by lodging an objection. Willems emphasised that the only link between Richardson and himself and GEBE was that he had used Richardson as a reference in his job application, and Richardson had provided an interview to vouch for him.
After the whirlwind of December 19, 2022, and having received their phones back from the authorities with 24 hours, both men began to question the legitimacy of the investigation and the charges being levelled against them. “Only a year after the raids did I receive a summons to be questioned,” Richardson said on Sunday. “I had hoped that during that interrogation I would learn what the basis of this investigation was. From the questions I was asked, it became clear that the Prosecutor had incorrect information. It all sounded so far-fetched that I couldn’t wrap my head around it.”
Because he was labelled a suspect in the “Helsinki” investigation, Willems did not pass the screening for the position of CFO at GEBE. Faced with this predicament, he struggled to find another suitable job and, ultimately, was forced to leave the island.
Richardson said the ordeal took an emotional toll on everyone involved, including his wife. “She has been experiencing recurring nightmares. The RST first knocked on our door at 6:00am, then threatened to shoot our dog, which she quickly brought to safety. The detectives entered and searched every room without offering any explanation for their presence. It was a deeply traumatising experience for my wife.”
When presented with a list of confiscated items, the suspects asked the RST how long the investigation would take, only to be told by the detectives that they did not know. They were also never informed that they were suspects in the so-called “Helsinki” investigation. At the time, Willems sarcastically remarked, “So, the case has a name. Wow! Ain’t this something! Being part of an investigation we know nothing about.”
On Friday, the OM stated in a press release: “The reason for discontinuing the prosecution is that one of the suspects in the ‘Helsinki’ investigation, was told in the past by the OM in another older investigation that he was not a suspect. The manner in which this was delivered made it also apply to the facts later investigated in ‘Helsinki’. The OM has therefore decided it is no longer feasible to prosecute any of the suspects in the ‘Helsinki’ case. The ‘Helsinki’ investigation hereby ends; the prosecution will dismiss the cases against all suspects.”
The OM further stated that it believes that “it is always important to take a critical look at its own actions as well.”
The investigation was conducted by the Criminal Investigation Team RST under the leadership of the Central Team (CT) of the Attorney General of Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.
Despite the closure of the “Helsinki” investigation, the damage to Richardson and Willems’ reputations – and the consequences for their careers and business ventures – remain significant.
