Civil Registry employee arrested by National Detectives

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The National Detectives (Landsrecherche), under the direction of the Prosecutor’s Office Sint Maarten, have arrested an employee of the Civil Registry Department. The civil servant is suspected of accepting payments in exchange for improperly advancing appointment times for government services. The Civil Registry Department provides essential public services, including the registration of births, deaths, marriages and divorces, the issuance of official certificates, passport and identification card applications, address changes, and updates to personal records. Many of these services require appointments, which are intended to ensure fair and equal access for all citizens. The investigation is ongoing. No further details will be released at this time. The National Detectives specialise in investigating criminal activities within the government, with a particular focus on civil servants.