PHILIPSBURG–Two men suspected of involvement in the armed robbery of Beach Plaza Casino on Walter Nisbeth Road on February 13, 2017, will go on trial November 29, the Court of First Instance decided Thursday.
Suspects J.F. (26) and V.E.B. (24) are suspected of taking an undisclosed amount of money from the cashier, after which they calmly left the scene on foot. They will also be charged with illegal firearm possession.
The Prosecutor said the suspects’ case files are getting bigger and bigger, as they allegedly are also involved in various other investigations into theft with violence. Therefore, the Prosecutor’s Office has thus far only presented preliminary indictments.
One of the cases concerns an armed robbery in Dutch Quarter committed January 21, 2018, during which DNA evidence was secured. The results of investigations into these samples by Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) are expected to return to St. Maarten October 3, the prosecutor said.
Attorney Safira Ibrahim asked the Court to suspend or lift B.’s pre-trial detention as her client is a first-time offender who, she said, would not flee from prosecution. B., who was born in Anguilla, would be willing to hand over his passport, the lawyer said. She added that there were alternatives for preliminary detention.
The prosecutor said the two men are suspected of having committed a string of armed robberies and burglaries. They are also suspected of possession of illegal firearms. Together, these crimes merit years of imprisonment.
He, therefore, recommended to the Court not to lift the defendant’s pre-trial detention.
The judge followed the prosecutor’s recommendations and turned down the lawyer’s request. The Court found the charges of a sufficient serious nature and said the flight risk also applied.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/80129-beach-plaza-casino-robbers-to-go-on-trial-november-29
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