There will be no delay in sending the file on the incident involving then minister Collin Partap at the Belmont Police Station to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard. So said acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams during yesterday's weekly media briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain. Williams was responding to questions from reporters.
"There is no hold-up in the presentation of the file to the DPP. An investigation is being done and the investigation is being done thoroughly. Upon completion, the file will be sent to the DPP for his guidance." Pointing out that it was still early days yet as the incident had only occurred on August 26, Williams said: "The investigation has not been completed and it will not be completed by the media asking about it every single day. The issue is we are focused on doing our job in a professional manner and will not take an undue period of time."
Telling reporters that it will take a few weeks to complete the report, Williams declined to answer questions about Partap's press conference on Tuesday at his constituency office in Guaico, Sangre Grande. "I will not prosecute the matter in the public domain prior to that matter being completed by way of an investigation and determination be made whether the MP should be prosecuted or not," he said.
"I have presented sufficient information to the media to bring clarity around the police action and at this point in time, I would not be advancing any further details in relation to that investigation." Asking for a few weeks to complete the investigation, Williams said there were no plans to investigate Partap's claim that he was unfairly treated by police at the Belmont station after he was detained. "I have not received any complaints from Mr Partap and no investigation is being launched because I have not received any complaint," he said. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revoked Partap's ministerial appointment on August 26.