No police file has been submitted to Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard on the A&V Drilling alleged “fake oil” issue.
Gaspard confirmed the situation via a WhatsApp response on questions about the investigation’s status yesterday, following statement by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Monday in Parliament.
While responding to Opposition questions in Parliament about the forensic audit into the A&V Drilling/oil issue on Monday, Rowley said, “Petrotrin concluded this process not only by using the technical expertise but senior counsel to collate and respond to the allegations and all of those matters, all of that documentation, all of those reports are in the possession of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
A&V had been accused of receiving some US$11.5 million from Petrotrin after allegedly reporting an inaccurate amount of crude oil delivered to the Petrotrin refinery in 2017. The findings were revealed in an internal audit claim that was exposed by the Opposition in 2017.
Gaspard acknowledged, however, that his office did obtain a file from Petrotrin and his office would also give advice as needed.
“A file was submitted and I forwarded it to the police for investigation. There are no investigations at my office. From time to time my office has provided the police with advice-sometimes as they request it and sometimes when I think it is necessary,” he said.
The DPP made it clear that the police had not submitted any file in relation to this matter to date.
“The matter is with the police. No file has been submitted. Files are submitted after an investigation has been completed. This investigation has not been completed.”