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Marsiano J and Edward =, inspectors at the Economic Control Department (ECD), were each sentenced to 12 months in prison for having kept the money from fines. The defendants were also given a 3 year probation period. Rechter Siegline Wijnhard who reportedly sentenced the defendants in accordance with the prosecution’s demand took into account the fact that the men had expressed their regret. Defense Attorney Michelle Lau-Kerssenberg pointed out that her clients were on trial as ECD workers because they had kept money which was in violation of their professional duty. They had also failed to report that they had confiscated contraband. Marsiano J and Edward = confessed in court and stated that they had kept SRD 1,500 which they had shared among each other. The defendants reportedly gave the money back to the victim. The victim who confirmed their statements withdrew the charges at the police station on January 29. The suspects who had been arrested 3 days before that reportedly spent 2 months in jail. They were also punished by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism. The ministry on March 20 reportedly suspended them for 3 months. “The defendants stated that they have learned their lesson and that they will refrain from committing such actions as they now understand what is at stake and because they do not want to throw away all of those tears of service,” said the defense attorney who added that this is the her clients’ first run in with the law. She also made it clear that her clients fully cooperated with investigators.