In response to questions by Ronald van Raak and André Bosman, both members of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk commented that issues regarding the gambling industry in Curaçao and St. Maarten are those countries’ concerns.
Van Raak and Bosman wanted to know if the KPMG Dutch Caribbean accounting firm had any involvement with Francesco Corallo, owner of the St. Maarten casino. The two MPS based their questions on media reports regarding sports betting, illegal gambling, the Dutch Caribbean telecom provider UTS, Corallo and the role of KPMG. The accounting firm denied any wrongdoing.
Plasterk said he took the “signals and reports” seriously, adding he could not make statements about individual companies and citizens. He noted the Public Prosecutor’s Offices in Curaçao and St. Maarten were authorized to investigate any possible transgressions, and the local Minister of Justice would handle any prosecutions.
Plasterk further stated the Hague has invested $25.2 million to battle border transgressions, under the direction of Attorney General of Curaçao, St. Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands Guus Schram. He said the Prosecutor’s Office in Curaçao has “visibly and successfully” fought back against a variety of offenses including gambling, noting the government’s case against former lottery director Robbie dos Santos, who was sentenced to a conditional prison term of two years and in which $63.7 million was confiscated.
