On Monday, the Public Prosecution Service demanded a fine of €525,000 against two subsidiaries of construction company VolkerWessels, namely Volker Construction International BV (VCI) and Volker Stevin Caribbean NV (VSC). In addition, the Public Prosecution Service demanded a fine of €17,500 against a former director. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the suspects are guilty of bribing a high-ranking Government official in the construction of a bridge in Sint Maarten (Saint Martin). The official involved was a provincial executive and minister on the island for a long time.
The case revolves around the construction of the 700-metre-long Causeway Bridge in Sint Maarten, which was completed in 2013. The bridge forms an important connection between the French part and the international airport on the Dutch part of Sint Maarten. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the contract for the construction of this bridge was awarded to the companies involved because they promised and paid bribes through an intermediary to a former deputy and later minister of the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Development, the Environment and Infrastructure ("VROMI"). This minister had a lot of influence on the island and was responsible for building permits in the port.
Important role
In 2017, the FIOD launched an investigation into suspected bribery. The investigation took a lot of time, mainly due to witness statements and requests for legal assistance. The former official has since been irrevocably convicted in Sint Maarten for accepting bribes. This also applies to the intermediary involved, who acted as an agent for the subsidiaries. The Dutch intermediary played an important role, because VCI concluded a consultancy agreement with him. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the bribes were paid to the official involved through this arrangement. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the director has not taken sufficient measures to prevent and end bribery. VSC was involved in this case because, as a local company, it entered into a construction agreement with the Sint Maarten port authority.
Crown witness
According to the Public Prosecution Service, there is sufficient evidence that all suspects are guilty of bribery. The statements of the Dutch intermediary are central to this criminal case. In March 2019, the Public Prosecution Service in Sint Maarten concluded a crown witness agreement with the intermediary. According to the intermediary, 'there was only one boss on the island' and that was the official involved. If that official was not paid, VolkerWessels subsidiaries would not receive new contracts. The official demanded 2% of the total contract price of USD 43 million for himself. The payment of the bribes by the subsidiaries through the intermediary to the official was concealed. For example, the intermediary repeatedly handed over cash amounts, newspapers and drawings to the official in a car park.
Reliable government
According to the public prosecutors, society must be able to rely on the integrity of officials. Bribery of public officials damages that trust. Furthermore, other citizens and companies could be disadvantaged because the briber is given preference. The public prosecutors further believe that a large, internationally operating construction company like VolkerWessels should be expected to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations, even when operating overseas.
Managers
The Public Prosecution Service considers it important that Dutch managers are also held accountable for involvement in bribery of foreign officials. The Public Prosecution Service has prosecuted three de facto managers. In October 2025, the Public Prosecution Service imposed penalty orders on two of them. The third, the director, appeared in court today. In its sentencing demand against him, the Public Prosecution Service took into account the fact that he had not received any personal financial gain and that the case had taken longer.