PHILIPSBURG--The trial of six persons suspected of human-smuggling and membership in a criminal organisation, which was scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed until March 2 on their lawyers’ request.
All are charged with involvement in several operations aimed at smuggling groups of Haitian and Brazilian nationals to St. Thomas between February 1 and July 12, 2015, and of membership in a criminal organisation.
Prosecutor Maarten Noordzij said during a previous hearing that all suspects were caught red-handed while they were transporting large groups of immigrants or hiding them in several homes.
It involves four suspects with Haitian nationality: J.M.D. (49), T.F. (50), L.D. (55) and K.C. (42). K.C is the only woman among the suspects and is considered the “evil genius” of the organisation, according to the Prosecutor’s Office. Dominicanos A.P.P. (58) and M.F.V. (32) are also considered members in the organisation.
The Prosecutor said the illegal immigrants paid between US $2,000 and $2,500 for their shipment to the US Virgin Islands.
Wednesday’s hearing was postponed because attorney Zylena Bary, who is representing three suspects, could not be present due to health reasons. Her colleague Safira Ibrahim also requested a postponement on behalf of her clients J.M.D. and M.F.V. as she had insufficient time to listen to 10 CDs filled with wiretapped telephone conversations between her clients and other suspects, which are part of the evidence.
Ibrahim told the Court she had received these CDs on December 31, 2015, which had allowed her insufficient time to go through all the conversations.
Five suspects are held in detention. Suspect A.P.P’s detention was suspended on October 23, 2015. He had to hand over his passport and remain available to the police and the Judge of Instruction. He is also obligated to be present at his trial
