The T&T Police Service is insisting the investigation involving Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner is closed. But Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday described that development as "scandalous" and a "national disgrace" which has tarnished the Police Service. Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs was absent from yesterday's daily media briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain. Instead, ASP Joanne Archie faced a barrage of questions from members of the media on the issue. Last week, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard said Warner had not been cleared of any allegations arising out of a Caribbean Football Union meeting in Port-of-Spain last year. It was reported last Tuesday there was no case against Warner, when correspondence from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to Rowley revealed Gibbs had informed the commission by letter, dated March 2012, that "on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, no further action can be taken."
Investigator in the matter, ASP Totaram Dookie, in a letter to Gaspard, said he was unable to discern any contravention of T&T laws by any person. Dookie also told Gaspard further investigations might be warranted under the Customs Act 78.01. Archie could provide no answers, only repeating the investigation had been closed by the police. She said: "I have been advised that matter was thoroughly investigated and there was insufficient evidence to prefer any charges. "However, the matter has been terminated pending any further developments that arise." Asked whether the police would be seeking further leads, Archie repeated that the police had "terminated the investigation." On whether the police intended to work with Customs in finding leads, Archie said: "I imagine any assistance the police can have, with any new information coming to hand, the police will deal with it." She said she had no information on those who were interviewed by the police, adding she was unaware whether Warner had been interviewed. Pressed further on what was submitted in Warner's file to the DPP, Archie said: "I cannot say. I know a file was submitted but I cannot say what the contents of that file were."
In October 2011, Gibbs told the media the Police Service was "quietly doing what it has do to" in regard to that probe. He did not rule out the possibility of Warner being questioned. Archie's statements have led Rowley to question the quality of the investigative skills of the police or the lack of them. "The police have clearly sent someone before the media who has no answers and in that regard the Commissioner of Police must be held accountable and must answer," Rowley said. He said it also reflected a reluctance by the police to do "good police work." He added: "One thing about the police is they are consistent in their position. The police had taken the initial position that there was nothing to investigate. "Then they went ahead, under duress, and pretended to investigate and all the while they have not been interested in the possibility of whether a crime has been committed." He said the development also had tarnished the image of the Police Service, especially regarding transparency. He said: "This is a stain on the capacity and credibility of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. It is quite scandalous in attempting to justify what they had done because they sought to misrepresent the DPP by sending the incorrect thing to the Police Service Commission. "The police are adamantly sending the message that they don't care because they may implicate someone in high office." Asked if he intended to state his concerns again on paper, Rowley asked: "Who to write to?" Text messages sent to PSC chairman Prof Ramesh Deosaran yielded no reply and calls to the commission got the response that he was busy.
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Rowley requested a police investigation into the alleged bribery scandal involving Warner in May last year. It was alleged Warner, in his capacity as president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), at a meeting at the Hyatt Regency on May 10 and 11, 2011 offered US$40,000 to 25 countries represented at the meeting for their support of Fifa executive Mohamed Bin Hammam. He was challenging incumbent Sepp Blatter for the post of Fifa president. Warner and Bin Hammam were to appear before Fifa's Ethics Committee to answer bribery charges. But Warner subsequently resigned his Fifa executive position and avoided appearing before Fifa's Ethics Committee to answer the charges.
Bin Hammam was banned from Fifa for life after he was found guilty by the committee. Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, who last week said he did not give any directive to close the probe, said yesterday he had no further comment. However, chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Prof Ramesh Deosaran, in an interview late yesterday, said he and other members of the commission discussed the matter during a meeting yesterday afternoon. He said, "The Police Service Commission had a preliminary discussion this afternoon and put it on our agenda for our statutory meeting on Monday. The point is that on the face of the matter it looks quite serious and we (the commission) will be giving it full and urgent attention on Monday. On Monday we will deal with it and have an independent decision."