PHILIPSBURG--The tentacles of the “Octopus” investigation are holding tight to independent Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser. The Court of Appeal ruled this afternoon not to lift Matser’s restrictive custody.
His attorney Cor Merx was before the Court on Tuesday with a request for the restrictive custody to be lifted and to allow Matser to see other people, including his aging mother. Matser has only been allowed contact with his attorney since his arrest on March 2 in the ongoing investigation into election fraud (vote buying) during the August 2014 Parliamentary Elections.
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., R.K.- were arrested on the same day as Matser and a third -W.B.- was arrested the next day, March 3. All these four suspects are still in the custody of the National Detectives.
In accordance with the Penal Code, the Prosecutor should present the four detained suspects – Matser, E.F., R.K. and W.B. – no later than Friday to a Judge of Instruction for the continuation of their detention. The Prosecutor’s Office is still to make a decision on whether an extension of the suspects’ detention is necessary for the ongoing investigation.
