On April 30th of this year a violent robbery was committed on St. Eustatius. After the Dutch Caribbean Police Force had received a notice an investigation lead by the Public Prosecutor’s Office BES was launched. As a result of that investigation, on May 1st the suspect with the initials G.G.O.L. was arrested on St. Eustatius. On May 8th the fellow suspect with the initials T.V.S.L. could also be taken into custody.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested the investigating judge to order custody against both suspects, which means that they would remain in custody longer and also would be transferred to the Penitentiary Institution on Bonaire.
For the suspect T.V.S.L. the investigating judge ordered the custody and this suspect has since been transferred to Bonaire. With regard to suspect G.G.O.L., the judge decided that although the legal requirements were met to keep him in custody longer, the investigating judge had nevertheless decided that he should be released.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office does not agree and find that suspects of theft with violence should remain in custody if there is a legal basis for it. Such matters cause much unrest and insecurity in the small island communities, and are so severe that release can lead to feelings of insecurity.
The Public Prosecution Office has therefore appealed against the decision of the investigating judge to release G.G.O.L. This appeal will be handled on May 24th by the Joint Court. If the Court decides on appeal that L. should now be taken into in custody he will be arrested and will be transferred to Bonaire.