PHILIPSBURG, St Maarten, CMC – Law enforcement authorities say they have detained a “person of interest” in the death of Sabine Arrindell, the wife of the leader of the Oualichi Movement for Change (OMC) Olivier Arrindell, who was also injured in the shooting.
A statement issued by the Prosecutor’s Office said that “this arrest marks a significant step forward in the ongoing investigation into the late-night shooting that claimed one life and saw two others injured.
“Due to the sensitive nature of this case and to preserve the integrity of the investigation, no further information will be disclosed at this time,” the statement said, with both the Prosecutor’s Office and Police Force of Sint Maarten thanking the public for their cooperation with law enforcement in the matter.
The police had said that the politician was in a car with his wife and daughter when someone shot at them. Arrindell fled to a nearby resort and sought shelter in the lobby. His wife reportedly died in the parking lot of the resort, but it is unclear whether his daughter was hurt.
“They tried to kill me. This is serious,” Arrindell said in a video posted on social media as he was taken to an ambulance the night of the shooting. He said the shooting occurred at a spot where he had agreed to meet someone who had contacted him earlier in the day and told him to pick up “confidential information.”
In an address to the nation on July 18, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina said there was no indication the shooting was politically motivated and assured that the authorities are diligently working to investigate the horrific crime, which he described as a dark spot in the nation’s history.
“I assure you we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice. The police are actively seeking those responsible for this act, and they will be held accountable for their actions.
“I want to explicitly state violence has no place in our political discourse and no place in our society. We must stand united against hatred and division and work together to build a peaceful, prosperous future for our citizens,” he added.
Politicians from several parties have denounced the shooting, which occurred as St. Maarten prepares to hold snap elections in late August.
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