SXMElections.com

>PHILIPSBURG:--- The Landsrecherche convoked a well known businessman who is also the brother of a Member of Parliament who was elected in the 2014 Parliamentary Elections. SMN News learnt that the businessman met with investigators 8am on Wednesday morning where he also filed a counter complaint against MP Christopher Emmanuel for slander and defamation.
Sources alleged that MP Emmanuel called the businessman's name as the person who approached him and a relative and offered him a $2M bribe to declare himself independent. However, during a parliamentary session held last week Monday October 20th, 2014, MP Christopher Emmanuel said on the floor of parliament where he has full immunity that he was offered $80,000.00 to run on a particular political list in 2010, he further stated that in 2014 when he won a seat in parliament he was contacted and offered $400,000.00 which eventually climbed to $2M. MP Emmanuel went further and stated that politicians on St. Maarten have moved up because they are not only buying votes but are now buying seats. At no point during the public meeting MP Emmanuel mentioned names or political parties who approached him.
SMN News contacted the businessman for a statement but he declined to make any statements on the ongoing investigation, he also referred SMN News to his attorney who could not be reached by telephone on Thursday.
Press Prosecutor Tineke Kamps stated in a press release on Thursday that the Public Prosecutors Office has taken notice of the statement made in Parliament on October 20, 2014, by one of the MPs pertaining to the issue of "seat buying". This statement has led to an order to investigate what was exactly said. Thus the prosecutor will be able to assess, if a full investigation is warranted.
Contrary to what has been published in various media, this investigation is not done by the RST (Kingdom Detectives) but by the National Detective Agency, the Landsrecherche.
At this point in time no further information will be given.

Christopher Emmanuel mentioned 5 times