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Probe initiated by British Serious Fraud Office
BY ALICIA DUNKLEY & KARYL WALKER Observer staff reporters
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Fraud Squad police yesterday searched the house of junior minister Joseph Hibbert in an investigation initiated by the British Serious Fraud Office, creating anxious moments in the Government and an expression of deep concern from the prime minister.
Joseph Hibbert
Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime branch scoured Hibbert's Tucker Avenue, St Andrew home near midday as part of investigations into the dealings of a British-based firm in Jamaica during the time he served as a civil engineer with the Ministry of Housing and Works under the previous administration over 15 years ago.
The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner Les Green in the presence of Hibbert and his attorney, George Soutar.
Hibbert is the minister of state in the Ministry of Transport and Works and the Member of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew.
In a statement to Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said Hibbert had denied any wrongdoing.
"I have spoken personally with the member who has denied any knowledge of, or involvement in any wrongdoing or illegal acts that might have led to these investigations," the prime minister said.
"I am naturally deeply concerned about this development.
The relevant agencies of government are co-operating fully in these investigations which have been initiated under the Mutual Assistance Treaty between Jamaica and the United Kingdom. I am not now aware of any specific allegation which has been made which may in any way implicate the member. I await further information which may arise as the investigations proceed," he said further.
Yesterday, MP for South West St Ann, and attorney-at-law Ernest Smith, speaking to the Observer on behalf of Hibbert, who was unwilling to speak with the media, dismissed the allegations against his colleague.
"I am his lawyer," said Smith. "I will be speaking on his behalf. We are meeting with the police tomorrow to ascertain the reason for this search and what it is that they are looking for at a time when he was in fact a member of parliament and not working at the ministry."
Smith, who said he had not seen a copy of the warrant, said he would wait until today to comment on what justification was given for the search.
"On the face of it, it (the search) relates to a case that is going on in the United Kingdom, but certainly, based on a judgement that I have read today in relation to the case in which Mr Hibbert's name is not even mentioned, there is certainly no allegation of misconduct on the part of Mr Hibbert, absolutely none," he told the Observer.
The JLP, in a subsequent news release, said it was satisfied with the explanation provided by Hibbert when the matter was raised.
"On the basis of those discussions the party is also of the view that there was no impropriety on the part of Mr Hibbert and takes the position that the ultimate determination of the matter will take place in the courts," the release said.
Police were yesterday tight-lipped about the raid on Hibbert's house. A release from the police said they were acting in accordance with an order issued by the local courts under section 23 of the Mutual Assistance (Criminal Matters) Act.
It was not clear what was removed from Hibbert's home yesterday, although a source said the cellular phones of workers, a computer and documents were seized by the police.
An Observer source said Hibbert co-operated fully with the police.
"It is related to the investigation of a British firm by the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office. The company used to do business here .They were searching for telephone records," the source said.
editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...TER_S_HOME.asp
BY ALICIA DUNKLEY & KARYL WALKER Observer staff reporters
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Fraud Squad police yesterday searched the house of junior minister Joseph Hibbert in an investigation initiated by the British Serious Fraud Office, creating anxious moments in the Government and an expression of deep concern from the prime minister.
Joseph Hibbert
Officers from the Serious and Organised Crime branch scoured Hibbert's Tucker Avenue, St Andrew home near midday as part of investigations into the dealings of a British-based firm in Jamaica during the time he served as a civil engineer with the Ministry of Housing and Works under the previous administration over 15 years ago.
The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner Les Green in the presence of Hibbert and his attorney, George Soutar.
Hibbert is the minister of state in the Ministry of Transport and Works and the Member of Parliament for East Rural St Andrew.
In a statement to Parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said Hibbert had denied any wrongdoing.
"I have spoken personally with the member who has denied any knowledge of, or involvement in any wrongdoing or illegal acts that might have led to these investigations," the prime minister said.
"I am naturally deeply concerned about this development.
The relevant agencies of government are co-operating fully in these investigations which have been initiated under the Mutual Assistance Treaty between Jamaica and the United Kingdom. I am not now aware of any specific allegation which has been made which may in any way implicate the member. I await further information which may arise as the investigations proceed," he said further.
Yesterday, MP for South West St Ann, and attorney-at-law Ernest Smith, speaking to the Observer on behalf of Hibbert, who was unwilling to speak with the media, dismissed the allegations against his colleague.
"I am his lawyer," said Smith. "I will be speaking on his behalf. We are meeting with the police tomorrow to ascertain the reason for this search and what it is that they are looking for at a time when he was in fact a member of parliament and not working at the ministry."
Smith, who said he had not seen a copy of the warrant, said he would wait until today to comment on what justification was given for the search.
"On the face of it, it (the search) relates to a case that is going on in the United Kingdom, but certainly, based on a judgement that I have read today in relation to the case in which Mr Hibbert's name is not even mentioned, there is certainly no allegation of misconduct on the part of Mr Hibbert, absolutely none," he told the Observer.
The JLP, in a subsequent news release, said it was satisfied with the explanation provided by Hibbert when the matter was raised.
"On the basis of those discussions the party is also of the view that there was no impropriety on the part of Mr Hibbert and takes the position that the ultimate determination of the matter will take place in the courts," the release said.
Police were yesterday tight-lipped about the raid on Hibbert's house. A release from the police said they were acting in accordance with an order issued by the local courts under section 23 of the Mutual Assistance (Criminal Matters) Act.
It was not clear what was removed from Hibbert's home yesterday, although a source said the cellular phones of workers, a computer and documents were seized by the police.
An Observer source said Hibbert co-operated fully with the police.
"It is related to the investigation of a British firm by the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office. The company used to do business here .They were searching for telephone records," the source said.
editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...TER_S_HOME.asp
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