UPDATE Court Orders Multi-Million Guilder Repayment in ‘Seabass’ Fraud Case Involving Julian Lake and Michael Dijkhoff
The Court of First Instance of Sint Maarten issued a decisive ruling on Thursday, June 12, 2025, in the long-running “Seabass” fraud case.
The court ordered former government officials Michael Dijkhoff and Julian Lake to repay millions of guilders to the public
UPDATE Court Orders Multi-Million Guilder Repayment in ‘Seabass’ Fraud Case Involving Julian Lake and Michael Dijkhoff
treasury after finding them guilty of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that siphoned off public funds through manipulated IT contracts.
https://sxmnews.ai/from-bid-rigging-to-land-stealing-story-of-christopher-emmanuels-crash-out/
This decision follows an earlier verdict in December 2024, when the court concluded that Michael Dijkhoff, during his tenure as a senior government official,
abused his position to steer public IT contracts toward two companies secretly controlled by himself and Julian Lake.
To hide their involvement, the pair used the names of close relatives to front the businesses—
UPDATE Court Orders Multi-Million Guilder Repayment in ‘Seabass’ Fraud Case Involving Julian Lake and Michael Dijkhoff
one company was registered under the name of Michael Dijkhoff’s sister, and the other under the name of Julian Lake’s then-wife.
The court found that these shell companies received inflated contracts for IT services from the Sint Maarten government.
Dijkhoff and Lake used their insider positions to rig the procurement process and secure payments for work that often lacked transparency or proper oversight.
The goal was clear: to divert public money into private hands without detection.
On Thursday, the Court of First Instance ordered Michael Dijkhoff to repay NAf 4,453,818.14 (Cg) and Julian Lake to repay NAf 402,783.43 (Cg).
UPDATE Court Orders Multi-Million Guilder Repayment in ‘Seabass’ Fraud Case Involving Julian Lake and Michael Dijkhoff
These amounts reflect the exact sums that the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Sint Maarten (OM SXM) calculated were fraudulently obtained.
The court fully endorsed the Prosecutor’s financial analysis, signaling its confidence in the thoroughness of the investigation and the accuracy of the findings.
This case—dubbed “Seabass”—was led by the National Detectives, a specialized unit focused on rooting out corruption and criminal activity within government ranks.
The detectives conducted a meticulous investigation, gathering financial records, corporate documents, and internal
communications that clearly demonstrated how Dijkhoff and Lake circumvented legal procurement procedures to enrich themselves.
The Seabass case is a textbook example of how public trust can be violated when government insiders prioritize personal profit over duty.
UPDATE Court Orders Multi-Million Guilder Repayment in ‘Seabass’ Fraud Case Involving Julian Lake and Michael Dijkhoff
The scheme not only cost taxpayers millions but also eroded confidence in the institutions meant to serve the public good.
The Prosecutor’s Office emphasized that this ruling sends a strong message: abuse of public office will have serious financial and legal consequences.
In a statement, OM SXM underlined the importance of transparency in public procurement and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing those who misuse government power for personal enrichment.
Their work in exposing the fraud laid the foundation for the court’s decision and helps ensure accountability at the highest levels of government.
This case also underscores the vital role that investigative agencies like the National Detectives play in upholding the rule of law.
Moving forward, the Sint Maarten government is expected to review its procurement policies and oversight mechanisms to prevent similar abuses.
The Seabass case stands as a stark reminder that without effective checks and balances, even a few corrupt actors can do lasting damage to public institutions and finances.