Police on Tuesday interviewed several people at the Ministry of Sport as investigations into the recently shutdown Life Sport programme continued.The Sport Ministry is the second ministry to be visited by police after a report from the Central Audit Committee, tabled in Parliament on July 25, indicated evidence of fraud, financial inconsistencies and corruption in the programme.The report was conducted after concern was raised that money from the programme was being used to finance criminals.
In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Deputy Police Commissioner Glen Hackett said investigating officers were still gathering documents and information on the programme.He said police officers had retrieved documents from the Ministry of Sport on Tuesday as part of their investigations.Last week it was announced by Finance Minister Larry Howai that investigators had also taken documents from his ministry.
Hackett said: "The investigators have interviewed people at the Ministry of Finance and Tuesday they interviewed people at the Ministry of Sport."We are in possession of a number of documents that would assist us in this investigation."He said the investigation was "proceeding apace" and that the police were making progress.Asked whether police had interviewed specific individuals named in the Central Audit Committee's report, Hackett said those investigating were still in the initial stages of the probe.
He said investigators had not yet spoken to Life Sport's former deputy director Ruth Marchan who is under 24-hour police protection following the killing of her bodyguard in June."The investigation has to start with the procurement of documents so police would be duly apprised regarding the parameters of the investigation."We are gathering documents from critical ministries and from there we will interview other people," Hackett added.