Indictment: Heyliger took bribes worth almost ten million guilders

PHILIPSBURG – Between 2004 and 2014 United Democrats politician Theo Heyliger allegedly accepted bribes worth more than $5.5 million (9.9 million guilders) from Windward Roads, dredging company Devcon and Volker Stevin – the company that built the causeway across the Simpson Bay Lagoon. This appears from the indictment against Heyliger that became public on Monday.

In exchange for the bribes, Heyliger granted the companies lucrative government contracts. Between January 1, 2004 and March 31, 2014, Windward Roads gave Heyliger $1,847,625, plus $850,000 in cash, $40,000 via a bank transfer and a share in the sale of a piece of land in Upper Princess Quarter. Windward Roads also extended a line of credit to Caribbean International Maritime Co., St. Maarten Shipping & Stevedoring and Nichirei Caribbean Co. worth 900,000 guilders ($502,793). Furthermore, Windward Roads did work on Heyliger’s home for 135,292 guilders ($75,583). The company also gave Heyliger a Dodge Charger worth $200,000.

Between April 1, 2009 and October 1, 2011, dredging company Devco TCI Ltd. and/or Ronald Maasdam and Caribbean Advice & Consultancy gave Heyliger $700,000 in exchange for a dredging contract. This part of the indictment also mentions a cash payment of $82,468 and a bank transfer of $260,000 but it is unclear whether this is part of the $700,000 bribe.

Between February 1, 2010 and March 31, 2014 Volker Construction International and Volker Stevin Caribbean allegedly bribed Heyliger for more than a million bucks: $1,065,524. Ronald Maasdam and Advanced Consultech are also involved in this deal that furthermore mentions a payment of $179,000 and a cash payment of $83,000.

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Photo of the courthouse in Philipsburg. Photo by TIM VAN DIJK.