Posted on January 21, 2026
Dutch prosecutors seek fines over €500,000 against two former subsidiaries of construction group VolkerWessels over alleged bribery on a bridge project in the island of Saint Maarten.
Prosecutors are asking for a €525,000 fine against Volker Construction International (VCI) and Volker Stevin Caribbean (VSC), accusing the companies of bribing Saint Maarten’s former infrastructure minister between 2009 and 2014 to secure a major bridge construction contract. A former director of the subsidiaries faces a separate proposed fine of €17,500 for his alleged role.
The fines were reduced by 12.5% due to the long duration of the case and because prosecutors concluded the former director did not personally profit. The investigation was launched nearly a decade ago by the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD).
According to prosecutors, the companies used Dutch consultant Ronald M. as an intermediary to pass bribes totaling $860,000 to politician Theo Heyliger. Heyliger was sentenced in 2020 to five years in prison in Saint Maarten for corruption and money laundering. Ronald M., who later became a crown witness, previously received a three-year prison sentence.
Prosecutors allege consultancy fees paid to Ronald M. were partially delivered in cash to Heyliger, concealed in newspapers and construction drawings. In return, Heyliger allegedly used his influence to ensure VCI won the bridge contract, valued at tens of millions of euros. Both subsidiaries are now inactive.
The former director has denied knowledge of the payments.
Based on reporting by NL.
