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PHILIPSBURG--Former minister of finance Hiro Shigemoto, who is the main suspect in the so-called Piranha case, may be facing more criminal charges in what has been dubbed the Piranha-2 investigation. Prosecutor Maarten Noordzij said this Wednesday during a preliminary hearing.
In the Piranha-1 case, Shigemoto (44) and Global Advisory Services NV Director R.A.G. (61) are facing fraud, embezzlement, forgery and money-laundering charges.
Shigemoto and G. are suspected of having made fraudulent transactions in connection with the recruitment of personnel for various government agencies that allegedly cost Country St. Maarten NAf. 233,054.
Shigemoto is accused of having facilitated this fraud in contravention of the Accountability Ordinance (Comptabiliteitswet), which constitutes misconduct as a civil servant in connection with the payment of falsified bills.
The Prosecutor stated that more crimes had been reported against Shigemoto. He remained tight-lipped as to the exact nature of the Piranha-2 investigation, which only involves Shigemoto, but said the case was similar to Piranha-1.
The Prosecutor suggested the Court to merge the two cases for two days of hearings on March 11 and 12, 2015. According to the Prosecutor, this was the first open slot in the Court's agenda, which, he said, was actually "very speedily."
Shigemoto's attorneys Jairo Bloem and Janna Westra and G.'s attorney Richard Gibson Jr. were diametrically opposed to the Prosecutor's suggestion. The lawyers wanted their clients' cases to be dealt with as soon as possible and would rather see the Piranha-1 case handled separately. The Court is to decide on this matter on December 10.
The Piranha investigation started after a complaint was filed in 2011. Windward Islands Airways International Winair Chief Financial Officer G. was arrested in connection with this case on December 3, 2012. Shigemoto was arrested on December 17, 2012, and released again seven days later. The National Detectives completed the Piranha-1 investigation in June 2013.
Shigemoto served as Finance Minister from 2010 to April 2012, as a member of the government led by United People's (UP) party. He also was head of the Island Government's Finance Department for several years.
