“I do not know anything about the robbery”

“I do not know anything about the robbery,” said Romano Meriba (32) who is currently on trial for armed robbery. He is being suspected of having robbed a local entrepreneur with the help of Ruben S (40), Errol S (41) and Anthony C (55) on November 9, 2015. Friday’s trial lasted more than 4 hours. All of the suspects were questioned on Friday. Meriba told the court that he was a bit emotional because he has already been about a year in jail. “One day in jail seems like a year especially given the fact that I did not commit armed robbery and also did not have any plans to rob anybody,” said Meriba who claims that people mentioned his name after the armed robbery and that he therefore contacted his lawyers, Raoul Lobo and Benito Pick. He reported to the police on November 13, 2015 and was taken in custody. He pointed out that he was told that Errol S had incriminated him. Meriba claimed that he did not go to the house of Siegmund Struiken who was shot dead during a shootout with the police shortly after the armed robbery had taken place. He claimed that he was at the home of the M family at the time of the armed robbery. The attorneys Lobo and Pick on Friday asked the court to release their client from police custody. Lobo pointed out that Suspect Errol S had requested to give his statement in the presence of officer M. He explained that it is possible that the Errol S and officer M were working together. Errol S has denied having asked that officer M be present. Lobo pointed out that officer M has told lies. He pointed out that officer M had initially claimed that he was present during the arrest of the suspects but that he later claimed that he was not present. “The police officer is only telling lies,” said Lobo who added that Defendant Anthony C has also changed his statement. Anthony C had incriminated Meriba during the judicial preliminary investigation but at the trial he retracted his statement. Lobo explained that the statements of Errol S and Anthony C can’t be used. He pointed out that both suspects are working together and that they both want to incriminate Meriba. He refered out that the Public Prosecutor’s Office must make sure that mobile phones do not end up in prison because then the inmates could communicate with each other. Pick pointed out that there is not enough evidence to proof that Meriba was involved. District Attorney Duncan Nanhoe pointed out that Anthony C had given a statement with clear details regarding the involvement of Meriba. He pointed out that defense attorneys also communicate with their clients via mobile phones that are smuggled inside the prison system. Meriba quoted that he is willing to report to his probation officer every day if he is released temporarily. He made it clear that he does not have the need to obscure evidence. He is also willing to surrender his passport. “I surrendered to the police voluntarily and that is why I will not flee if I am released.” The judge will reportedly announce a decision regarding the defense attorneys’ request on December 16.