The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is making it clear that the investigation into allegations of suspicious financial activity at three banks involving ACP Irwin Hackshaw is ongoing.
Upon completion of the PCA’s investigation, the Authority shall where deemed necessary, take action in accordance with the Police Complaints Authority Act.
In a release issued today, the PCA said it noted a report in the Guardian Newspaper dated May 28 regarding the closure of an investigation by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) into Hackshaw following alleged suspicious financial activity.
Reference is made to a PCA Press Release dated March 9, 2020 where pursuant to Section 26 of the PCA Act the PCA ‘has independently initiated a two-fold investigation surrounding reports of unusual financial transactions linked to Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, Hackshaw; and the alleged dissemination of “sensitive information” by police officers attached to the Professional Standards Bureau.’
The PCA stated that if a criminal offence is established, it would be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution and other relevant stakeholders. It also disclosed that it “may also make recommendations to the Commissioner of Police on the conduct of officers in private work-related business whilst being employed as a Police Officer. They may also make recommendations on how police collect donations from the public for alleged police events.”
“The PCA considers this a very serious matter and is working assiduously to complete this investigation as it could potentially have serious implications for the senior officer involved,” the release said.
According to the T&T Guardian article this week, an intense three-month police investigation into Hackshaw following a newspaper report which claimed he had allegedly been flagged for suspicious financial activity at three banks, has been closed by the T&T Police Service, with the officer being exonerated from any criminal wrongdoing.
The investigation was conducted by ACP William Nurse of the Port-of-Spain and Western Division and was later submitted to Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith.
The newspaper report in March had alleged Hackshaw had been flagged for activity during the period 2014-2019 and the three banks reported the matter to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Trinidad and Tobago.
Hackshaw has since taken legal action against the Trinidad Express, claiming from day one he had been treated unfairly.
“Insiders familiar with the investigation said the report indicated that Hackshaw only had three main accounts in which donations totalling under $.25m were given for five police events over the period 2014-2018. The report said Hackshaw, who had also earned money privately from security-related consultancy, had permission to conduct this activity,” the article said.
Reporter: Rhondor Dowlat
