Community service for damaging slot machine

June 19, 2015 8:16 AM
PHILIPSBURG--An enraged casino visitor will have to perform twenty hours of community service as a judge on Thursday found it legally and convincingly proven he had wilfully damaged a slot machine.
 
The 58-year-old defendant, an unemployed taxi driver, confessed he had smashed in with his fist the touchscreen of a slot machine at Jump Up Casino on January 14. He added, however, that it was an accident as he had been "provoked" by one of the casino's slot attendants while he was gambling.
 
In the defendant's opinion, the machine had not been functioning properly, but the slot attendant had declined to rectify the situation, "not even after three requests," the man told the judge.
 
The attendant had told the police the customer was aggressive and had damaged the machine, but the suspect denied he was aggressive.
The damaged touchscreen had to be replaced against a cost of US $700, according to the casino, which said it is not insured against vandalism and damage, except for flooding.
 
The unemployed said he was willing to pay damages in instalments, as he could not pay the full amount "in one time."
 
Prosecutor Nanouk Lemmers considered the charges proven and deemed 80 hours of community service a more suitable sentence at this moment than payment of damages in monthly instalments.
 
"Slot machines often are a source of misery," attorney-at-law Geert Hatzmann said in defending his client. The lawyer did not have much sympathy for casinos, as many residents "lose their entire monthly salaries in one single night of gambling, leaving their children without food and clothing," he said.
 
Hatzmann stated the casino had failed to file for damages and said 40 hours of community service were in his opinion a more suitable punishment.
 
The judge found the case proven, but said 20 hours of work for society would suffice considering the nature and the cost of damages. The defendant will have to report himself at the Rehabilitation Centre in Madame Estate on Monday morning.
 
The Daily Herald

Lawyer Roeland Zwanikken considers legal action against ABN AMRO Bank

May 08, 2021 6:14 PM
THE HAGUE--Attorney-at-law Roeland Zwanikken at St. Maarten’s BZSE law office is considering legal action against the intention of the Dutch ABN AMRO Bank to close the bank accounts of its clients in the Dutch Caribbean.

Fiscaal onderzoek bij notariskantoren vinden doorgang

May 07, 2021 8:04 AM
In het Antilliaans Dagblad: Fiscaal onderzoek bij notariskantoren
WILLEMSTAD – De fiscale onderzoeken bij de notarissen vonden en vinden, ondanks de beperkingen van Covid-19, weer doorgang en de medewerking aan de kant van notarissen en adviseurs is daarbij ‘over het algemeen goed’.

Juridische miljoenenstrijd tussen BNP Paribas en Italiaanse prinses verhardt

February 22, 2021 4:51 PM
  • Bezit van Italiaanse Crociani-familie op Curaçao mag van rechter worden verkocht
  • De Crociani's ruziën al jaren met BNP Paribas over een claim van $100 mln
  • Curaçaos trustkantoor United Trust heeft 'geen enkele relatie meer' met Camilla Crociani
Een Italiaanse prinses met zakelijke belangen in Nederland heeft het onderspit gedolven bij diverse rechtbanken in een langslepend conflict met zakenbank BNP Paribas.