(Trinidad Express) The Police Service Commission said yesterday the decision to close the investigation into bribery allegations involving Works Minister Jack Warner was within the prerogative of the Police Service and the Commission has no control over such a decision.
In a release yesterday, the Commission, following its monthly statutory meeting, however, stated it has a role to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the discharge of the functions of Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and Deputy Commissioners of Police.
“In this regard, this matter (involving the handling of the probe into the bribery allegations) would be viewed against the backdrop of the general efficiency and effectiveness of the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners in managing investigations of alleged offences and the statistics and results generally, will form a part of the performance appraisal of the Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioners of Police in the discharge of their functions,” the Commission stated.
It added further it would investigate “in the meantime” any alleged discrepancies in the Police Commissioner’s letter dated March 21st, 2012 and the public statements of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard which appear to shed a different light.
“We shall be writing the Commissioner of Police on this matter,” the Commission said.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley had written to the Commission complaining about the “dilatory pace” of the police investigations concerning Warner and others relating to an incident which occurred in May 2011 at the Hyatt Regency hotel, where the heads of Caribbean football associations claimed they were bribed to support then FIFA presidential nominee Mohamed bin Hamman, at a meeting organised by Warner.
Witnesses stated each organisation was paid US$40,000, totalling US$1 million. FIFA subsequently suspended both Warner and bin Hamman over the allegations. Bin Hamman was found guilty and banned for life while Warner, a former FIFA vice-president, resigned before his matter was heard.
The Commission stated the Commissioner informed it by letter dated March 21, 2012 that “on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, no further action can be taken in this matter”. The Commission said it wrote to Rowley communicating the information.
The DPP has since stated he did not advise the investigations be stopped. Quoting from a memorandum to lead investigator, Insp Totaram Dookhie, dated March 20, 2012, Gaspard advised investigations should continue under the Customs Act.
The Commission also noted the public information officer of the Police Service, ASP Joanne Archie, had stated the investigations have been closed.
“The Commission wishes to emphasise that it has no role to play in police investigations which are within the province of the police, and if the police have decided to close an investigation, as they have done in this case, the Commission is guided by the hallowed principle of law that a person must be presumed innocent until proven guilty by cogent and compelling evidence,” it stated.
