~Two more questioned in Octopus Investigation ~
PHILIPSBURG--Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Silvio Matser may end up remaining in the custody of the National Detectives for the next eight days if the Prosecutor has his way. The extension will be ruled on by the Judge of Instruction this afternoon.
Matser’s detainment is a part of the ongoing Octopus investigation into suspected election fraud (vote buying) in the August 2014 Parliamentary Elections. Matser was arrested early Wednesday morning. Two other men, E.F. and R.K. (believed to be former police officer Rogelio Koeiman) were also arrested the same day as part of Octopus. An eight-day extension of those two men’s detentions has also been requested by the Prosecutor.
The extension of the detention of a fourth person, D.F., who was arrested on an unrelated charge during the search of E.F.’s home, is requested by the Prosecutor as well.
The tentacles of Octopus have also grabbed two other suspects. They have been in custody since Thursday. No more information about these detainees, not even their initials, has been disclosed to the press by the Prosecutor’s Office. Initially, three persons were questioned on Thursday, but only two had been arrested following their interrogation.
Another two persons were questioned this morning. They were called in by the National Detectives “only for questioning,” according to Spokesman for the Prosecutor’s Office Norman Serphos.
Matser’s continued detention puts the draft 2016 budget handling at a standstill.
On the day of his arrest, Parliament was scheduled to start the second round of debate on the draft budget. That meeting was stalled because Matser’s absence left the Coalition of Eight without the minimum required eight MPs to start the meeting. Opposition “Super Seven” MPs, though present did not sign in for the meeting. Their stance was that the Coalition with the required backing is mandated to run the country.
The Super Seven has since communicated to the Coalition which supports the incumbent William Marlin Cabinet that its members are ready to sign in for the meeting to restart the debate on the draft budget. However, they stopped short of saying they will give the needed votes to pass the budget.
As it stands, if the budget debate resumes while Matser is still behind bars and the Super Seven vote against the budget with the remaining members of the Coalition of Eight voting for, the votes will tie seven-seven. This would result in the budget having to be tabled again in another plenary session of Parliament. If at that stage that same stalemate arises, the budget will have to be withdrawn.
Meanwhile, MPs serving on Parliament’s Permanent Committee for Finance are scheduled to meet with the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT next Friday in Parliament House. The in camera session is expected to centre on the draft budget and the way forward.
