(Trinidad Express) Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard Friday night recommended an international forensic investigation into the Section 34 e-mails released by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley.
In a statement issued shortly after 7 pm, Gaspard, who has not made any public comment since Rowley made the disclosure during debate on a no-confidence motion against the Government on Monday in the Parliament, noted that the Police Service “may be singularly and particularly hamstrung in their attempts, though gallant, to conduct a full and thorough investigation.”
There have been calls for foreign experts to probe the authenticity of the e-mails from similar addresses used by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, Local Government Minister Suruj Rambachan and National Security Adviser to the Prime Minister, Gary Griffith.
The four politicians have all claimed the contents of e-mails were a fabrication and the Prime Minister has referred the matter for a full police investigation which is headed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson.
Gaspard noted that 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, especially since the alleged e-mail messages reveal conduct that is serious, far-reaching and criminal.
“Alternatively, if false, the effects are unlikely to be any less deleterious,” he stated.
“It seems clear to me that any proper and thorough investigation should inevitably involve the questioning of the individuals named in the e-mails, amongst others.
“Accordingly, it is in these circumstances that I feel duty-bound to recuse myself from proffering any advice to the police in this matter so that the public may feel that justice has not only been done, but is seen to be done,” he said.
Gaspard has delegated Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Joan Honore-Paul, the responsibility of advising the police in the matter.
“I wish to reassure the public that my office remains committed, resolute and unflinching in the fair delivery of public justice to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.
Gaspard said he had listened to the debate in the House of Representatives as well as noted subsequent media reports.
“Accordingly, this matter has attracted the deep, grave and abiding concern of my office. 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 forensic investigation,” he added.
He noted that at his request, on May 23 (Thursday), he met twice with Richardson, together with a key member of the investigative team and other senior members of his office.
“It became evident that, if for no reason other than the fact that the headquarters of some of the relevant e-mail providers are located within the jurisdiction of the United States of America, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service may be singularly and particularly hamstrung in their attempts, though gallant, to conduct a full and thorough investigation.
“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. It is to be expected that such persons will play leading roles in the investigation. The Police Service Act lends support in this regard,” he stated.
Turning to a front page story in the Guardian yesterday, which stated that a spying device was detected at the DPP’s Office at the height of discussions during the Section 34 controversy, Gaspard reserved comment for fear of jeopardising the investigation.
