PHILIPSBURG:--- The suspects A.R.W.M. and C.J.L.C appeared 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 and 150 hours of community service for the two suspects.
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. a jail sentence of 3 months fully suspended, 150 hours of community service and deprivation of the right to vote and 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.
The Joint Court of Justice will give its verdict on May 3, 2017.
The proceedings against the two other suspects in the same Masbangu-investigation R.H., suspected of mediating in the vote buying, and R.C.H.J. will take place on Wednesday, April 12.
Prosecutor's Office Bulletin
Masbangu (vote buying) suspects appeared in court as trial begins.
