Corruption case bridge project Sint Maarten: former VolkerWessels managers accept fines
Two former managers of VolkerWessels subsidiaries each accepted a €20,000 fine for corruption related to the Causeway Bridge on Sint Maarten. The court in Zwolle is hearing the criminal case against the companies involved this week.
Former VolkerWessels managers settle corruption case around Sint Maarten bridge
Two former managers of VolkerWessels subsidiaries have accepted a penal order from the Public Prosecution Service (OM) in a corruption case related to the construction of the Causeway Bridge on Sint Maarten. This became known on Monday during a hearing at the court in Zwolle, according to infrasite.nl on the basis of reporting by the ANP.
It concerns a former project manager and a former contract and tender manager of Volker Construction International (VCI). Both accepted a fine of €20,000. The OM considers their personal matters settled with this.
Bribes to minister for €40 million contract
According to the OM, two VolkerWessels subsidiaries — VCI and Volker Stevin Caribbean (VSC) — paid bribes between 2009 and 2014 through an intermediary to the then minister of Infrastructure of Sint Maarten, Theo Heyliger. The aim was to secure the contract for the construction of the Causeway Bridge, a steel drawbridge on the western side of the island. The bridge project involved approximately €40 million.
According to reporting by the AD, based on information from the Financieele Dagblad (FD), the payments totalled nearly one million euros. The Causeway Bridge is part of a 726-metre-long traffic bridge over Simpson Bay and was put into service in December 2013.
OM demands over half a million euros from companies
For the two subsidiaries, the OM is demanding a combined fine of €525,000. A former director of the companies faces a fine of €17,500. The amounts have been reduced by 12.5 per cent owing to the exceptionally long duration of the proceedings. The investigation by the Tax Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD), code name 'Frozen', began nearly ten years ago following indications that public contracts on Sint Maarten were not being awarded solely on the basis of price and quality.
Noteworthy is the use of a crown witness — a rare instrument in fraud and corruption investigations. The crown witness, designated as Ronald M., is a Dutch consultant who was himself a suspect and who, in exchange for a sentence reduction, gave detailed statements about the payments and the procurement procedure.
Minister Heyliger convicted in 2020
Theo Heyliger, the allegedly bribed minister, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for corruption in 2020 on Sint Maarten. In October last year, a further conviction followed requiring him to repay more than €90 million. Heyliger was long regarded as one of the most popular politicians on the island.
In addition to the two subsidiaries, a former director of VCI is also standing trial. This person is now employed at construction company BAM.
VolkerWessels has stated to the FD that it disagrees with the OM and emphasises that the subsidiaries involved have not been active since 2014. The Dutch part of VolkerWessels is now owned by investment company HAL.
The Zwolle court has reserved four days for the hearing. The substantive hearing began on Tuesday; the final day is scheduled for Thursday, 29 January.
Source: Google News SX — Crime