Arrested independent MP Silvio Matser smiles as he catches a glimpse of some family members upon exiting the Courthouse on Friday morning. Matser has been in restrictive custody since his arrest on March 2 on suspicion of election fraud. An attempt by his attorney Cor Merx to get the restrictive custody lifted was rejected by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday.
PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser will spend another eight days in the custody of the National Detectives in the ongoing “Octopus” investigation into election fraud (vote buying) in the August 2014 Parliamentary Elections. Matser was a first time candidate in that election and emerged as one of the top over all vote-getters with 491 votes.
The Judge of Instruction granted the request of the Prosecutor, filed on Thursday, for the extension of Matser’s stay on Friday morning.
Matser was taken to the Courthouse in handcuffs by justice officials to appear before the Judge. Matser is still in restrictive custody and had only been allowed to see his attorney Cor Merx since his arrest on March 2. A case filed by Merx with this Court of Appeal to lift the restrictive custody to allow Matser to see, among others his aging mother, was rejected.
The extension of stay for Matser’s fellow detained suspects – E.F., R.K., and W.B. – will be determined this afternoon by the Judge of Instruction.
Matser and his fellow suspects’ detention was extended for the first eight days by the Judge on March 4. Based on the Penal Code, they have to appear before the Judge today for a determination on further extended stay. In Matser’s case, the further extension of stay has already been ruled on by the Judge.
It should be noted that Matser is not in pre-trial detention. The Prosecutor has not yet determined that the Octopus case needs to go to a trial. This is still the investigation phase.
By law, any suspect once arrested can be held by police for a total of six hours, following that an assistant prosecutor (often a high ranking police officer) can determine based on the investigation to hold the suspect for two times 24 hours (two days). Before the two times 24 hours expires, the suspect must be presented by the Prosecutor to the Judge of Instruction to evaluate the detention and decide on granting a stay for eight days.
After the first eight days, the Prosecutor can again request a stay of another eight days as was just granted in Matser’s case.
After the first two eight-day detention, another eight days can be requested by the prosecutor.
While Matser stands at the centre of the investigation, there are 16 other suspects. Three others, like Matser, are in the custody of the National Detectives. Seven are inmates who are incarcerated in Pointe Blanche Prison on other unrelated offences. Six others were released after questioning, but remain suspects in the case.
Two of the suspects - E.F., and R.K. - were arrested on the same day as Matser and a third – W.B. - was arrested the next day, March 3. All four suspects are still in the custody of the National Detectives.
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