PHILIPSBURG–All three suspects in the case involving embezzlement and forgery committed at the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB), STB’s New York office and East Caribbean Destination (ECD) Management Company were found guilty by the Court on Wednesday.
Main suspect Regina Labega (59), the former head of the Tourist Bureau and current policy advisor to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Stuart Johnson, was sentenced to 12 months suspended, on three years’ probation, and a NAF. 300,000 fine. She was also banned from being a civil servant for a period of five years.
The Court found it proven that Labega had committed embezzlement in her capacity as a civil servant, and had committed tax crimes.
The Court found it proven that Labega, as the factual owner of East Caribbean Destination Management Company NV (ECDMC), had misappropriated funds belonging to STB and had used these funds to enrich herself.
Co-directors of ECDMC, former civil servant Erica Fortuno (38) and author and cultural icon Fabian Badejo (68) were convicted of embezzlement and were both found guilty of tax crimes.
Fortuno was sentenced to three months suspended, on three years’ probation and will have to pay a NAf. 50,000 fine.
Badejo, who received the same punishment as Fortuno, was found guilty of similar charges and also of having committed forgery in filing tax returns. Badejo and Fortuno were both also banned from the civil service for five years.
The now defunct company ECDMC, which was used in the tax crimes, will have to pay a NAf. 50,000 fine. All suspects were acquitted of money laundering.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/83099-court-hands-down-verdicts-in-tourist-bureau-fraud-case
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