(Note: It was earlier reported that Aron was on the working visit with Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan. However, it was Prosecutor Maarten Noordzij with whom Aron travelled to the Dominican Republic. Maan is in charge of the investigation as acting attorney-general. The error is regretted.)
PHILIPSBURG--Acting Secretary-General of Justice Udo Aron is under investigation by the National Detectives (Landsrecherche) for abusing his power by entering the island on May 5 with a woman who did not have the necessary documents to clear Immigration at Princess Juliana International Airport SXM.
The Daily Herald understands that Prosecutor Maarten Noordzij and Aron travelled to the Dominican Republic in April on a working visit. Noordzij came back to the island days before Aron decided to head back home. Aron arrived at SXM Airport on May 5 with a Dominican Republic woman and walked past Immigration officers, informing them that he had the situation under control. Immigration officers did not comply with Aron’s statement and told him to follow correct procedures.
Aron decided to contact the acting head of Immigration and informed him that he was being harassed by the Immigration officers. The acting head allegedly informed the officers that everything was under control and that Aron could pass with the woman.
This did not sit well with the Immigration officers and they immediately contacted their union to file an official complaint with it about what had transpired. Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo met last week with the union, which informed him of what had taken place on May 5. Kirindongo ordered a full investigation of the incident and filed an official complaint with the National Detectives on Friday.
Aron has not been suspended from his position, but Kirindongo is awaiting the outcome of the investigation to make a final decision on Aron’s actions. Kiringdongo is off-island until Tuesday. A source close to his cabinet confirmed to this newspaper that Aron was refusing to step down from his post and maintained that he had done nothing wrong.
The woman is still on the island without the required documentation and is staying at an undisclosed location.
(Note: It was earlier reported that Aron was on the working visiting with Chief Prosecutor Ton Maan. However, it was Prosecutor Maarten Noordzij with whom Aron travelled to the Dominican Republic. Maan is in charge of the investigation as acting attorney-general. The error is regretted.)
Source: Daily Herald
Senior Justice official under suspicion of abusing power (correction)
