(Trinidad Express) The man leading the probe into “emailgate” said yesterday there was no prejudice in the investigation and he will not let politics tarnish his work.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson, in a brief telephone interview with the Express, said the police did not leak any information to the media, following an interview with Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Express received a report that Rowley had refused to hand over his computer, but Rowley, in an immediate response, described the reports as “completely untrue and totally false”.
The request came from Inspector Sylvester of the IT (information technology) department of the Police Service. Sylvester was one of three officers who met with the Opposition Leader on Tuesday.
Richardson led the interview.
Rowley said on Wednesday he was immediately prepared to hand over his electronic devices—two computers, two iPads and an iPhone.
Rowley said he told the investigators he was willing to assist with the investigations but also asked the police to put in writing the basis for their request.
Yesterday, at a news conference at the Opposition Leader’s office in Port of Spain, Opposition Senator and attorney for the Opposition Leader Faris Al-Rawi questioned how such information ended up in the public domain and accused the police of leaking false information to the media.
Al-Rawi repeated that there must be an independent investigation as the police investigation is prejudiced and off-track in its inception.
Questioned on Al-Rawi’s accusations, Richardson said, “I have said it on more than one occasion; I would not conduct the investigation in the full glare of the media.”
He said an “active investigation” is in the works, and he will not discuss that with the media.
“We are dealing with politics and that is all I would want to say about that,” he said, when asked about whether he was concerned about such sensitive information pertaining to the investigation finding itself in the public domain.
Said Richardson, “I want to focus on the investigation, and I have said that and I am remaining with that; I am leaving the politics for the politicians; I am dealing with the law, the evidence and facts, that is what I’m dealing with,”.
Rowley, in his meeting with Richardson and his team this week, said a request must be made in writing for him to accede to any request for his computer to be handed over.
Asked if he had written to Rowley requesting the electronic equipment, Richardson said he will be in contact with the Opposition Leader soon.
Questioned directly on whether the investigations were prejudiced in any way or if there was political interference, Richardson responded, “A very, very transparent manner; I am not going before the media and tell them this and that…up to now, we are moving as professionals and conducted a very cordial interview with Dr Rowley; we met everybody, thanked each other and left; the politics playing out now, I want to stay away from that.”
Richardson said it was “unfortunate” some things found their way in the press.
Questioned on whether he intends to contact international e-mail service providers or seek foreign assistance in the investigations as directed by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, he said, “We’re looking at all possibilities, ma’am, but again, to comment on those matters to any great degree…I would be accused of bias.”
On Tuesday, Richardson led a team comprising of Superintendent Nanan, Inspector Sylvester and WPC Wilson to the Opposition’s office where they met and questioned Rowley, with Al-Rawi present.
Yesterday, Al-Rawi presented an audio recording of the meeting with the police and played snippets of it to show that Rowley was fully co-operative with the police and never refused to hand over his computer.
Al-Rawi reiterated it was he who raised concern as to why Rowley should hand over his computer as he was not subject to investigation.
Following that meeting, it was reported yesterday in both the Express and Guardian that the police requested Rowley’s computer and he, in response, asked that Richardson place his request in writing.
Said Al-Rawi, “It could only be coming out of that camp (police). That kind of information that came into the reporters’ hands who called last night would have come, because it is a fact that Dr Rowley nor I spoke to any issue of whether a computer was requested or not of Dr Rowley.”
Al-Rawi said false information was provided to the media that Rowley refused to hand over his computer.
He added that up to yesterday’s date, Rowley, who was in Tobago, received no letter from Richardson requesting the computer.
The police, said Al-Rawi, were investigating the matter in a questionable way.
He said asking for computers was secondary as priority would be to access information from e-mail providers, all based in the United States, from the various e-mail accounts named by Rowley.
Al-Rawi said the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) outsources its e-mail accounts to Gmail, and a request can be made to the company to restore all information to its servers by seeking the relevant permission through the Telecommunications Authority.
He said further that the Central Authority of Trinidad and Tobago—which falls under the purview of the Office of the Attorney General —has to request information from Google through the United States Department of Justice.
Al-Rawi reiterated that an independent probe is vital to uncover the truth and members must be appointed to the Integrity Commission so that body can also do its investigations.
“There is deep trouble in our society; this investigation has been poisoned at its very root, and I’m confident that the population wishes to have a transparent and expeditious investigation,” said Al-Rawi.
He also called for clarity on whether reports that the Office of the DPP was bugged. Al-Rawi said there was need for a closer look as to which company provides security services for the Office of the DPP and the Office of the Attorney General.
In his motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister and Government on May 20, Rowley disclosed 31 e-mails which he said were sent to him in hard copy by a whistle-blower.
The content of the e-mails, which bore similar addresses to e-mail addresses used by the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, the Local Government minister and the National Security adviser to the Prime Minister, allegedly exposed a criminal conspiracy by high office-holders to discredit and physically harm a journalist, to plant bugs in the Office of the DPP, to have the DPP removed from office and to accept payment from an unnamed person in exchange for freedom in relation to the Section 34 fiasco.
The Prime Minister immediately referred the matter to Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams, asking for an investigation.
The four politicians have also denied knowledge of the e-mails and their contents, stating they were a fabrication.
The DPP has suggested that foreign expertise be sought to assist in the investigations while Rowley and some civic society organisations have called for an “independent” investigation by a body such as the Integrity Commission.
