The issues raised in the 31 e-mails read by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley during a Parliament sitting on Monday ought to be thoroughly investigated by the police in tandem with an independent forensic investigation team, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, said yesterday.Gaspard broke his silence on the now controversial issue in press release.
"Circumspection being the touchstone, I am of the respectful view that these are not allegations which can be slain by anything other than a full, thorough and independent investigation," he said.
The e-mails, according to Rowley, were sent to him by a "whistle-blower" and raised issues of possible wrongdoing by several high-ranking government officials in the implementation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act. The e-mails were purported to have come from e-mail addresses belonging to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Local Government and Works Minister Suruj Rambachan and national security adviser Gary Griffith.
The PM and her colleagues have denied any knowledge of the e-mails or of sending them, saying Rowley misled the House and fabricated the e-mails.However, after Rowley released the contents of the e-mails to the House, Persad-Bissessar wrote to acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams asking for an investigation. Williams then appointed his deputy, Mervyn Richardson, to head the probe.
Yesterday, Gaspard, whose office is tasked with overseeing the prosecution process, said he had listened to the respective contributions made by Members of Parliament and apprised himself of the media reports and also read the e-mails in question.
"The contents of the e-mails disclose acts and intentions, which, if true, have the likely potential to undermine public confidence in the holders of high offices...alternatively, if false, the effects are unlikely to be any less deleterious. Accordingly, this matter has attracted the deep, grave and abiding concern of my office," the DPP said.
The DPP said after a meeting with Richardson and a key member of the investigative team yesterday, it became evident "that the headquarters of some of the relevant e-mail providers are located within the jurisdiction of the United States of America."He said because of this, the Police Service may be singularly and particularly hamstrung in their attempts, though gallant, to conduct a full and through investigation."
Gaspard said the Police Service Act allows local investigators to seek the assistance of their foreign counterparts."It seems plain therefore, given the novelty and magnitude which define the perimeter of this investigation, that there is a burning need to engage the services of universally heralded and credible professionals, who have the required experience in both forensic analysis in the relevant foreign jurisdiction as well as in the conducting of investigations in matters of this type," he said.
One of the e-mails also revealed a plot to remove Gaspard from office. As a result of this, Gaspard said he felt duty-bound to recuse himself from offering advice to the police in the matter "so that the public may feel that justice has not only been done, but is seen to be done."Thus, I have delegated to Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul, the responsibility of advising the police in this matter," he said.
MORE INFO
Responding to Gaspard's release yesterday, Ramlogan said he has been making "the call for the police to bring in independent investigators."In a brief interview with the T&T Guardian last night, Ramlogan said the Police Service Act allows the Commissioner of Police to contract people with the relevant expertise to assist with the investigations."I support this call. It is one I have been making," he said.
The AG said, however, that the Police Service is the most appropriate agency to conduct the investigation."The Integrity Commission is limited to breaches in the Integrity in Public Life Act. The allegations made concerns the possible commission of serious criminal offences and the proper lawful authority to investigate the commission of criminal offences is the Police Service," Ramlogan said.