UPDATE # 2: @ 17:20 PM
~ Emerald-investigation into tax fraud, forgery and money laundering ~
POINT BLANCHE, Sint Maarten — House searches and seizures have been taking place since early Monday morning, November 28, 2016 in the investigation code-named Emerald. The special anticorruption 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.
For more information: see and like our facebook page: TBOAnticorruptionWatch
VIDEO: Update from Gino Bernadina the Public Prosecutor’s office spokesman, on the new investigation into tax fraud, forgery and money laundering code name ” EMERALD “.
UPDATE # 1: @ 11:45 am: Prosecutor’s Office Bulletin:
~ He is currently suspected of tax fraud, forgery and money laundering ~
Point Blanche, Sint Maarten — 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 in the Caribbean. 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.
For more information: see and like our facebook page: TBOAnticorruptionWatch
First story:
~ Investigation into bribery, tax fraud, forgery and money laundering ~
PHILIPSBURG, 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.
For more information: see and like our facebook page: TBOAnticorruptionWatch
