PHILIPSBURG—Businessman O'Neal Arrindell was arrested on the order of the Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday for intentionally removing the luxury yacht "Jefe" which was seized by the Prosecutor’s Office on July 11. The Anti-corruption Taskforce (TBO) detained Arrindell and took him into custody. He can potentially face a maximum imprisonment of four years for the withdrawal of goods that have previously been seized.
Arrindell who is the owner of Checkmate Security is a suspect in the Emerald investigation. Arrindell and suspended Port St. Maarten Group of Companies CEO Mark Mingo are accused of allegedly defrauding the harbour of a total of US $11 million over a number of years.
According to the Prosecutor’s office on Tuesday, the vessel was in the scaffoldings at Bobby's Marina at the time of seizure and it was not allowed to be moved or launched into the water. On Sunday, July 22 however, during an inspection of the Coast Guard at Bobby's Marina, the boat was no longer present.
A search of the area yielded nothing. Further investigation showed that the vessel had sailed earlier that day to Anguilla. The Coast Guard at the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, went to Anguilla to retrieve the yacht and towed it to the Coastguard substation in St Maarten. The vessel was once again seized.
One of the main tasks of the Anti-corruption Taskforce is to fight corruption. The confiscation of criminally obtained assets is also one of its tasks. Arrindell will remain in detention until a hearing is called.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79773-arrindell-arrested-for-moving-his-seized-boat
