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Wednesday, 07 January 2009
Startling revelations in a report prepared by the Major Investigation Taskforce, MIT have suggested that a government minister might have received kick-backs from British firm, Mabey and Johnson over a ten year period.
The Office of the Contractor General which Tuesday received the report from MIT, announced Wednesday that a formal investigation is now underway into all government contracts awarded to Mabey and Johnson, a Bridge building company.
State Minister Joseph Hibbert has been named in that investigation which is being pursued by the Serious Fraud Office of the United Kingdom.
Contractor General Greg Christie said he was enforcing his powers to conduct an in depth investigation after reviewing critical pieces of documents submitted to him by Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green who is in charge of serious and organised crime.
In a statement Mr. Christie said given the serious nature and gravity of the documentation presented, the matter warrants a formal investigation into the award of government contracts to Mabey and Johnson.
The Contractor General said the investigation will determine the role of State Minister Joseph Hibbert, and Derek A. Gibson in the award of contracts to the British firm.
Mr. Hibbert was the Chief Technical Officer in the Ministry of Transport and Works at the time of the awarding of some of the contracts to Mabey and Johnson.
Derek Gibson is the CEO of the firm which acted as local agents for Mabey Johnson.
The Contractor General also said he will try to determine the validity of allegations that money paid to certain persons in relation to the contracts awarded to Mabey and Johnson.
Mr. Christie said the documentation presented to him would suggest that several of the alleged payments were made to the account of Joseph Hibbert between 1993 and 2003.
The OCG also pointed to information received by representatives of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Serious Fraud Office and the British High Commission on November 26 last year.
The Contractor General stated that the Major Investigations Task Force will await the outcome of the OCG probe before taking further action.
On December 10 private premises belonging to Hibbert and Gibson in the Corporate Area were raided during simultaneous police operations.
The operations were conducted by operatives of the UK Serious Fraud Office who requested local police assistance under the Mutual Assistance Criminal Matters Act.
Meanwhile, the expected interview of Joseph Hibbert by UK Serious Fraud Office investigators will not take place this month.
Attorney representing Mr. Hibbert, Ernest Smith said based on discussions he had with representatives of the Serious Fraud Office, the exercise could take place in March.
Mr. Smith is also suggesting that Mr. Hibbert's name may have been fraudulently used.
The attorney said there is full co-operation with local and UK investigators.
"Mr. Hibbert is as clean as a whistle, in fact, it appears to me that Mr. Hibbert may be of assistance to them in that his name and his name only may have been fraudulently used without his knowledge, permission or consent," Mr. Smith said.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/14692/26/
Startling revelations in a report prepared by the Major Investigation Taskforce, MIT have suggested that a government minister might have received kick-backs from British firm, Mabey and Johnson over a ten year period.
The Office of the Contractor General which Tuesday received the report from MIT, announced Wednesday that a formal investigation is now underway into all government contracts awarded to Mabey and Johnson, a Bridge building company.
State Minister Joseph Hibbert has been named in that investigation which is being pursued by the Serious Fraud Office of the United Kingdom.
Contractor General Greg Christie said he was enforcing his powers to conduct an in depth investigation after reviewing critical pieces of documents submitted to him by Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green who is in charge of serious and organised crime.
In a statement Mr. Christie said given the serious nature and gravity of the documentation presented, the matter warrants a formal investigation into the award of government contracts to Mabey and Johnson.
The Contractor General said the investigation will determine the role of State Minister Joseph Hibbert, and Derek A. Gibson in the award of contracts to the British firm.
Mr. Hibbert was the Chief Technical Officer in the Ministry of Transport and Works at the time of the awarding of some of the contracts to Mabey and Johnson.
Derek Gibson is the CEO of the firm which acted as local agents for Mabey Johnson.
The Contractor General also said he will try to determine the validity of allegations that money paid to certain persons in relation to the contracts awarded to Mabey and Johnson.
Mr. Christie said the documentation presented to him would suggest that several of the alleged payments were made to the account of Joseph Hibbert between 1993 and 2003.
The OCG also pointed to information received by representatives of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Serious Fraud Office and the British High Commission on November 26 last year.
The Contractor General stated that the Major Investigations Task Force will await the outcome of the OCG probe before taking further action.
On December 10 private premises belonging to Hibbert and Gibson in the Corporate Area were raided during simultaneous police operations.
The operations were conducted by operatives of the UK Serious Fraud Office who requested local police assistance under the Mutual Assistance Criminal Matters Act.
Meanwhile, the expected interview of Joseph Hibbert by UK Serious Fraud Office investigators will not take place this month.
Attorney representing Mr. Hibbert, Ernest Smith said based on discussions he had with representatives of the Serious Fraud Office, the exercise could take place in March.
Mr. Smith is also suggesting that Mr. Hibbert's name may have been fraudulently used.
The attorney said there is full co-operation with local and UK investigators.
"Mr. Hibbert is as clean as a whistle, in fact, it appears to me that Mr. Hibbert may be of assistance to them in that his name and his name only may have been fraudulently used without his knowledge, permission or consent," Mr. Smith said.
http://www.radiojamaica.com/content/view/14692/26/
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