Nine investigations out of a total of 38 which were completed by the Integrity Commission in 2015 are now before the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), commission chairman Justice Zainool Hosein has said.
Hosein’s comments were made in the commission’s 2015 report laid in Parliament yesterday .
In his remarks on the nine completed probes, Hosein said, “It is anticipated there will be need for further collaboration with the DPP’s office as such matters progress through the system.”
Regarding 2015 activities, Hosein added, “There were several challenging investigations and a backlog of compliance matters were resolved as the Commission moved to ensure efficiency and overcome hurdles in unmasking matters that tended to disclose breaches of the Code of Conduct, provisions of the Integrity in Public Life Act as well as provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.”
Hosein didn’t identify the nine completed probes which were sent to the DPP. The report, however, detailed matters which were scrutinised in 2015.
According to the report, the number of matters brought forward from 2014 was 40. The number of complaints received for 2015 was 28.
Total number of matters in which investigations were conducted was 65.
The total number of matters referred to the Compliance Section was three. Total number of matters carried forward to 2016 was 27.
Completed and ongoing investigations in the report involve individuals described as a former prime minister, senators, government ministers, state entities, a regional corporation, a councillor and state board member. Entities described in some matters include the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC), National Quarries and National Lotteries Control Board.
Completed matters listed include a complaint requesting a probe into the receipt of a sum of money by a government minister from the T&T Football Federation general secretary; as well as a request for a probe into circumstances in which legal briefs were given.
Another matter completed involved a complaint alleging breaches of the Integrity Act by a government minister in his role as a special adviser.
Also completed was a complaint alleging breaches of the Integrity Act by “unnamed public officers which facilitated the commencement of projects in the St Joseph constituency.” Further matters completed involved complaints against a senator alleging breach of the Integrity Act and corruption allegations against a government minister.
Several other matters involving corruption allegations, unfair dismissal, alleged irregularities in PTSC hiring practices and unfair treatment by a public body were completed. Investigations are still ongoing into 25 matters including four complaints against a former prime minister alleging breaches of the Integrity Act in the award of land and construction of a church.
Also ongoing is a complaint against “the Government of T&T” alleging collusion, bid rigging and corruption relative to services rendered by a contractor. (see box)
The report stated the commission intends to publish, in the first half of 2016, the names of declarants who have failed to comply with the integrity law requiring filing declarations of income, assets and liabilities and registrable interests.
The report also stated that the commission maintains a Register of Interests to provide information to the public about the personal and business interests of people in public life.
ONGOING PROBES
* Complaint against a former government minister in the alleged solicitation of donations from contractors.
* Alleged irregularities in the importation of vehicles by a government minister.
* Anonymous complaint alleging an MP has been collecting money from CEPEP contractors.
* Allegation of insider trading by a person in public life.
* Alleged breach of the Integrity Act by an MP.
* Complaint against persons in public life, on alleged perversion of the course of justice.
* Allegation that a councillor abused and threatened workers engaged in a road paving programme.
* Alleged conspiracy to defraud the National Quarries Co Ltd.
* Alleged impropriety by personnel at a ministry in the award of contracts.