WILLEMSTAD, Curacao (AP) — A former prime minister of Curacao was arrested and ordered held Tuesday for questioning in a money-laundering investigation.

Gerrit Schotte will be held for an initial period of questioning, the Public Prosecutor’s office said in a statement. His longtime girlfriend was also arrested. If prosecutors want to hold Schotte beyond 48 hours, they will need a court order under the legal system in the southern Caribbean island.

Investigators searched Schotte’s home in December and seized a computer and documents.

Schotte said in a TV interview shortly before he was taken into custody that he expected to be cleared of wrongdoing.

Schotte is leader of the Movement for the Future of Curacao political party. He was left the prime ministerial post after less than two years in the job when his coalition lost its majority in parliament in August 2012.

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