THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD - Deals from the Dutch shipbuilder Damen Shipyards in the Caribbean are suspicious and are being investigated by the Public Prosecution Service (OM) in the Netherlands.

There could be financial irregularities through a company in Barbados. The case revolves around a British heavy equipment trader who acted as intermediary for mega contracts that Damen concluded in Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas. The shipbuilder and the intermediary allegedly have a financial conflict.

The FIOD raided the Damen shipyard in Gorinchem in early 2017 due to an investigation into foreign corruption. At that time it was still unknown where the corruption would have taken place.

The justice minister of Trinidad and Tobago says in a local newspaper that he was in the Netherlands in the summer of 2018 for a consultation about the investigation.

An OM spokesperson only wants to confirm that the judicial authorities are investigating a company from Gorinchem for corruption. "We are conducting an investigation, in the interest of which we do not make any further announcements," said the spokesperson.