PHILIPSBURG:---The suspects R.M. and R.C.H.J. appeared on Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in front of the judges of the Joint Court of Justice for the hearing in the Masbangu-investigation involving buying and selling of votes on behalf of the United People's (UP) party during the September 17, 2010, election. The Solicitor-General asked for a jail sentence of 3 months fully suspended with a probation period of 2 years and 150 hours of community service for R.M. and R.C.H.J.
The two other suspects A.R.W.M. and C.J.L.C appeared in front of the judges of the Joint Court of Justice on April 6, 2017. The Solicitor-General had also asked for a jail sentence of 3 months fully suspended with a probation period and 150 hours of community service for them. The Court of First Instance of St. Maarten on Wednesday, September 14, 2016, acquitted the four suspects in the Masbangu investigation of all the charges of vote buying against them. The Prosecutor’s Office had asked for A.R.W.M. And R.C.J.H. a jail sentence of 3 months fully suspended, 150 hours of community service and deprivation of the right to vote, for C.J.L.C. a jail sentence of 3 months fully suspended with a probation period of 2 years, deprivation of the right to vote and 180 hours of community service, for R.H. A jail sentence of 3 months fully suspended, 200 hours of community service and deprivation of the right to vote.
The Joint Court of Justice will give its verdict in all four cases on May 3, 2017.
Prosecutor's Office Bulletin
\r\n\t\t\t\t\tJudge to rule in Masbangu "vote buying" case on May 3rd.
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