(Trinidad Express) In the face of statements from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard that he has not been cleared of bribery allegations, Government Minister Jack Warner on Wednesday brushed off the issue, saying he had passed that stage.
“I have passed this stage; I have no comment to make…this is a non-issue for me. One day it is on, one day it is off; I have no problem with that; let’s talk anything else,” Warner told the Express on Wednesday by phone.
Pressed further as to whether he was concerned about conflicting reports with respect to investigations into allegations against him, Warner insisted he would not comment on the matter.
On Tuesday, it was reported that there was no case against Warner as correspondence from the Police Service Commission (PSC) to Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley has revealed that Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs informed the Police Service Commission by letter, dated March 2012, that “on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, no further action can be taken in this matter”.
Following publication of this in the media, Gaspard said in a telephone interview with the Express that he never advised the police to stop investigations into allegations of bribery, alleged to have taken place at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Port of Spain on and about May 10, 2011.
The allegations surrounding a report that several heads of Caribbean football associations claimed they were given US$1 million in a bribes-for-vote campaign to support former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam. Both Warner, a former FIFA vice-president, and bin Hammam were suspended by FIFA based on those allegations. Warner subsequently resigned from the organisation while bin Hammam continues to challenge his lifetime ban.
The DPP said he had told police that investigations should be continued in the context of the Customs Act and explained that the investigator in the matter (Inspector Totaram Dookie) would have written to him, asking for advice in the matter based on the material that he would have provided to him.
He (Gaspard) responded in a memorandum, dated March 20, 2012, which stated: “Please be advised that from my perusal of the rather threadbare information and material submitted to me, I am unable to discern any contravention of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago by any person. However, I am also of the view that further investigations may be warranted pursuant to the Customs Act, Chapter 78: 01.”
When the correspondence from the PSC to Rowley was reported in the media, which stated Warner had no case to answer, he (Warner) was vocal in his response, saying that from day one, there was nothing in this matter.
Warner’s office also issued a release chastising Rowley (who called for the probe) for suggesting the investigation was less than thorough and that what the police placed before the DPP was less than adequate.
While Warner preferred to not comment on the the DPP’s disclosure, Justice Minister Herbert Volney told the Express he was sure Warner will be exonerated.
“We’re a country that subscribes to the rule of law, and there is a process that everyone is entitled to be heard,” said Volney as he pointed out that Warner has not yet been called to answer any case because there was no evidence.
Repeated efforts to contact Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs for a response proved futile.
