Anti-corruption cops check Govt office in PoS

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Mark Bassant

Lead Editor, Investigative Desk

A far-ranging white-collar investigation into a government official took another turn today as investigators of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) visited a government office in Port-of-Spain yesterday

Sources told Guardian Media that the officers reportedly went to the office shortly before 4 pm on inquiries.

The Guardian reported exclusively a few days ago that contrary to reports carried in other newspapers a government official’s house had not been searched, and Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith in a media release sent on Thursday this week, had also confirmed the same.

However, Griffith did say there was an investigation into the official who allegedly facilitated a tax exemption for one million dollars for a member of the public to buy a luxury vehicle.

But Griffith said he would not comment any further on details of the investigation quoting the Proceeds of Crime Act and “tipping off.”

Sources familiar with the matter told Guardian Media that the officers visited the office to inquire about particular loan transactions associated with the official when he worked at two other State entities before he became a government official.

Sources say that the official had particular business interests that were now being scrutinised by ACIB officers.**

As part of their ongoing investigation sources confirmed that questions were asked about obtaining a production order related to the government official’s bank accounts. Sources confirmed that since then the government official’s legal team had filed certain legal documents.

Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, a production order is obtained to material relating to a known person or business, such as bank statements and any other correspondence. The production order is granted by a judge and it requires the person in question to either hand over the material contained in the order to a law enforcement officer or grants them access to the material.