JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE AND KPSM
In the case of the robbery on ‘Oro Diamante’, during which police officer Gamali Benjamin was brutally shot to death, two arrests have been made already. The Prosecutor’s Office and the entire St. Maarten Police Force, together with partners, are doing their utmost to find the second robber and make this third arrest.
Just after the robbery took place, the handling Prosecutor and the Police Force asked for the assistance of the public by publishing a description of the suspect that was on the run. Unfortunately an arrest hasn’t been made until today. A lot of questions from St. Maarteners came our way; they asked us why we didn’t publish a picture of the suspect. To answer that question: publishing a picture of a suspect is the ultimate effort, in judicial ways, to find a criminal suspect. Both the Police Force and the Prosecutor’s Office are here to protect àll citizens of St. Maarten and not just the ones who act according to the standing values. Even in times like these, they have to work in a professional manner, although that’s difficult in a situation like this when a beloved and well respected police officer died in the line of duty.
But, since we need the public’s assistance, the case handling Prosecutor and the Investigating Team decided to publish some more pictures and ask witnesses once more to step forward.
The first two pictures are pictures of two helmets. These helmets were probably worn by the robbers of ‘Oro Diamante’. The Investigating Team wants to get in contact with persons who recognize one/both helmets.
The third picture is a picture of the blue-white t-shirt. The shirt was probably worn by one if the robbers of ‘Oro Diamante’. The Investigating Team wants to get in contact with persons who recognize the shirt.
The last picture is a picture of the scooter which was probably used by the robbers of ‘Oro Diamante’. The Investigating Team wants to get in contact with persons who recognize the scooter.
If you recognize one, or more, of the items which are shown, please step forward and contact the Investigating Team on telephone number +1721-586-8052 and help us solve the case in which officer Gamali Benjamin was shot to death.
To show the importance and the shock which this case has led to; the Minister of Justice decided to hand out a 10.000 $ reward for any information that directly leads to the arrest of the second suspect.
