Defense working on appealing judge's verdict.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Famous Attorney at Law Brenda Brooks will have to spend the next eight days behind bars since her pre-trial detention was extended on Friday. SMN News learned that the investigators that are investigating the Ostrich case found a “WhatsApp” chat between Attorney Brooks and one of the immigration officers that is behind bars for bribery, and human smuggling.
Sources close to the investigation says that two auditors traveling from Trinidad to St. Maarten to audit NAGICO contacted Brooks because they overstayed their time once and feared that the immigration officers would have turned them back.
At that point it is understood that Attorney Brooks contacted the immigration officer and requested her to let the person through for a sum of money.
It is also said that Brooks reported the incident to the supervisor on duty. This incident it is understood occurred about three years ago and the two auditors that were having issues entering the island already have their working and residency permit.
SMN News further understands that the two auditors were questioned on Thursday but up to this time, it is not clear if the investigators questioned the supervisor and if that person cooperated and told the truth.
Ever since Attorney Brooks was arrested on Wednesday, there is an outrage in the community because Attorney Brooks is one of the local attorneys that would stand up to the Police when they “messed up investigations”, she would stand up to the Prosecutor’s and even got some of them fired when they broke the law and did not follow procedures or tricked suspects. Attorney Brooks is also one of those Attorney’s that is very outspoken in court, thus those in the justice chain has an ax to grind with Attorney Brooks and seemingly they were only waiting a chance to humiliate her.
On February 16th, 2017, Attorney Brooks wrote a piece on Facebook condemning the actions of Attorneys and other elected persons. Several persons said that this is one of the reasons she was picked up early Wednesday morning and is still behind bars while there are other suspects that commits worse crimes roaming the streets.
"As I read through comments on social media I can't help than to wonder how our people think, act and reason. Now as an attorney I can say there are several attorneys here on this island who go out in public, drink themselves down to a point where they cause accidents. Some might even snort their heads off in clubs and get thrown out but that don't mean because our society accept these types of behavior that I Brenda Brooks want to caught drunk and high on the road. I drink but I don't have to overdo it because at the end of the day I believe I stand for something in this society. If a parliamentarian gets a way with doing wrong that doesn't mean it's o.k. and that I should do the same. When we take on certain positions certain behavior is expected of us and if we should be in an exemplary position we should act accordingly be it professionally or in our personal lives and if we can't do that we should refrain from taking on such roles. I would love to walk nude on our nude beach. But guess what? The role I chose in this society does not permit me to do so. Our people have ways of reasoning that appalls me and reading some comments here says alot about our society and the lack of principles and values.
Attorney at Law Brenda Brooks to spend another eight days behind bars.
