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Merx’s hopes of becoming attorney-general in limbo
by The Daily Herald
Posted: Jun 13, 2006 13:37 UTC
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PHILIPSBURG - Former Chief Prosecutor Cor Merx has been nurturing hopes of becoming country St. Maarten’s first attorney-general, but those hopes are now on “hold” because of his current court case, which could jeopardise his chances.
This was confirmed by Merx’s high profile attorney-at-law Jairo Bloem on Monday.
Merx faces possible conviction on allegations that he falsified documents to obtain telephone records of his ex-girlfriend and her lover while he was still Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands.
Reliable information reaching The Daily Herald said there had been correspondence about the possibility of Merx becoming the island territory’s first attorney-general when it attained its new status as a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Prosecutor Johan de Vrieze when contacted about the correspondence said he could neither confirm nor deny that “there are documents of this nature.”
De Vrieze said Merx’s case was currently before the Court of First Instance and therefore he could not discuss it.
Merx contends that it was known that he had done certain things. He requested top ranking members of the Judicial System of the Netherlands Antilles and the Netherlands to give statements to prove his point.
He was reportedly told to leave the Windward Islands to avoid prosecution, but returned after leaving, with intentions of becoming an attorney in the office of the then-minister of constitutional affairs Richard Gibson, and eventually becoming attorney-general.
Bloem said he was not privy to any letters regarding his client’s wish to become attorney-general, but stated that indeed there had been such talks in October 2004 and shortly before Merx left the island.
Bloem said he had seen some correspondences in regard to Merx becoming attorney-general. He noted, however, that should his client be convicted he would have a criminal record and any aspirations of becoming an attorney afterwards would be moot, as the law states that candidates interested in becoming an attorney must have a record of good conduct.
He said it would be up to the Prosecutor’s Office in the end to give a recommendation to the Appeal Court in the matter of Merx’s bid to become an attorney, if he attempted to do so after his court case.
Bloem said it was important now to ensure that his client was properly represented in his court case, which is scheduled to continue today (see related story).
Representatives of several overseas-based media houses are on the island to report on the case.
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