COPS QUIZ PM, IMBERTBy Andre Bagoo and Nalinee Seelal Thursday, March 18 2010
SOURCES yesterday confirmed that Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert were interviewed by the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) as police intensified their efforts in relation to probes into former Udecott executive chairman Calder Hart and a 2006 affidavit sworn by Jamaat leader Yasin Abu Bakr.
Manning was interviewed by officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) at about 2.45 pm at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair Avenue, St Clair.
According to reports, Imbert was interviewed by officers of the ACIB at his offices at the corner of Richmond and London Streets, Port-of-Spain at about 10 am.
It is understood that the two probes, now being conducted simultaneously by the ACIB, will also see the involvement of other high-ranking members of the Manning Cabinet who are expected to be interviewed from as early as today as the investigations continue.
Word of the probes came as Newsday was yesterday informed by sources that Hart has left the United States and gone to the United Kingdom, after having fled Trinidad and Tobago on March 6 when his resignation as Udecott executive chairman was announced. Investigators are said to have been in contact with Hart and to have been assured that he is due to return to Trinidad and Tobago before the end of the month.
At the interview with Prime Minister Manning, it is understood that queries in relation to the Bakr affidavit probe were made.
It is also understood that Manning may have also been interviewed over what relationship, if any, he may have had with Hart. Possible subject matters of interest were also said to have included what knowledge Manning may have had about the process by which Udecott awards contracts.
Manning was also said to have been interviewed on issues surrounding the Ministry of Legal Affairs (MLA) Tower, a $820 million project Hart has been tied to. Manning was reportedly also interviewed on what knowledge – if any – he had of two directors of Sunway Construction Caribbean Limited, the firm which has been linked to Hart via his wife Sherrine, and which was awarded the MLA contract by Udecott. Manning was said to have been cooperative during the interview.
The reports came amidst a flurry of activity by State organs in relation to the ongoing police investigations.
Newsday understands that Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard met with Acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert, asking Philbert for a status of the investigation into Hart.
It is also understood that Gaspard also yesterday met with Attorney General (AG) John Jeremie at the AG’s offices at Cabildo Chambers, St Vincent Street, Port-of-Spain. That meeting is understood to have been a brief one on administrative matters that did not touch upon the Hart investigation. It was unclear if they discussed the Bakr case.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had advised police to investigate Hart since November and repeated such advice when the documents linking Hart to Sunway were published by Newsday earlier this month.
The documents – birth and marriage certificates of Mrs Sherrine Hart – were obtained from Malaysia by the Congress of the People and have since been authenticated by Malaysia Interpol.
At proceedings of the Uff Commission of Inquiry, Hart denied “family connections” with Sunway but failed to explain a fax trail that linked his Cascade home with Sunway.
He had also failed to cross-examine the sworn evidence of Carl Khan, ex-husband of Mrs Hart, who had deposed that the Harts were related to two directors of Sunway.
The Office of the DPP had also, since last year, advised Philbert to probe a controversial affidavit sworn by Bakr on June 8, 2006, in which he alleged a corrupt agreement with Manning in relation to the PNM’s campaign for the 2002 general election.
In a clear sign that the police have stepped-up their efforts to deal with both probes simultaneously, Newsday yesterday further learnt that former Trade and Industry Minister Dr Keith Rowley has also been approached by police for information in relation to the Bakr affidavit.
Sources also yesterday indicated that Local Government Minister Hazel Manning may be interviewed for information by the ACIB. However, it is not clear in connection with which probe she is to be approached.
During Imbert’s interview, the line of inquiry was reported as involving specific queries about the award of contracts, the status of the minister’s knowledge of Hart, and what information Imbert could provide investigators in relation to their queries. He too, it is understood, was interviewed about Udecott’s procedure in relation to the award of contracts and whether or not he had any knowledge of directors of Sunway. Sources report that after his interview, Imbert met with Manning.
There were also further reports yesterday that high-ranking persons in public life were interviewed by investigators but these interviews were said to have taken place on Tuesday in the course of ongoing police work.
In relation to the Hart probe, several persons were interviewed going into Tuesday.
These were Carl Khan, his attorney Vernon De Lima and attorney Timothy Hamel-Smith. De Lima and Hamel-Smith are both senior members of the Congress of the People.
