Prosecutor repeals appeal against second Buncamper-case suspect

July 26, 2016

PHILIPSBURG–The Prosecutor’s Office has decided to repeal the appeal filed against a second suspect in the Buncamper case.

The Daily Herald reported Monday, that the Prosecutor had withdrawn the appeal filed against the alleged “straw man” in this forgery case, Eco Green NV. Director T.O.W. That same day, the Prosecutor’s Office announced it had also repealed the appeal against a second suspect in this case, St. Maarten Building Supplies N.V. Director Ivan A. Havertong (48).
Together with the main suspects in this case, former politician Maria Buncamper-Molanus, her husband, high-ranking civil servant at the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Claudius Buncamper, and notary Francis Gijsbertha, W. and Havertong stood trial on charges of forgery with authentic deeds and filing of falsified tax returns.
On April 7, the Court of First Instance acquitted W. of all charges and sentenced Havertong to a suspended prison sentence of three months, on two years’ probation, with 120 hours of community service.
The Buncampers were both sentenced to suspended prison sentences of 12 months, on three years’ probation with 240 hours of community service. Notary Gijsbertha was sentenced to 240 hours of community service.
On April 25, the Prosecutor’s Office filed for appeal against all verdicts of the Court in First Instance. After internal consultation, however, it was decided to withdraw the appeals filed against W. and Havertong, the Prosecutor’s Office stated Monday. As these two suspects will not appeal, this means that the verdicts in their cases have now become irrevocable.
The appeal cases against the Buncampers and notary Gijsbertha will continue. It is not yet know when these appeals will be heard by the Joint Court of Justice as no court date has been set as yet.