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..Legal opinions ‘clear Jack’
Story Created: May 21, 2013 at 9:24 PM ECT
Story Updated: May 22, 2013 at 6:54 AM ECT
Three legal minds, enlisted by former government minister Jack Warner, have weighed in on the fairness and independence of the investigative committee responsible for the damning findings of the Concacaf report.
Just one day before he is set to deliver his nomination papers to contest the Chaguanas West seat, Warner highlighted parts of a booklet with the legal opinions of retired Justice of Appeal Zainool Hosein, Andrew Mitchell SC and Betram Commissiong QC, in a bid to clear his name of the allegations of fraud made by the Concacaf integrity committee.
Speaking at a media conference at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya yesterday, Warner said he has already delivered copies of the booklet to key members of the Government, including the Prime Minister and Attorney General.
All three poked holes in the report that pre-empted Warner’s resignation last month.
Hosein, in a signed admission, questioned the independence of the Concacaf committee.
“Clearly Concacaf, as part of the FIFA fabric, has selected, sponsored and has employed the members of the investigating committee,” Hosein said.
He said, based on the report, that it was clear that the investigating committee spoke with witnesses without notifying them of the charges against Warner.
“They didn’t even tell me why I was being investigated. Not once,” Warner said.
Mitchell stated that while the committee consisted of “distinguished jurists”, it has “failed in some fundamental ways to respect the individual rights of those under investigation”.
“It is simply unacceptable to condemn someone without offering the chance to respond to the allegations—no such opportunity was offered,” Mitchell said.
“Their aim was to get Jack Warner or bust,” said Warner.
Commissiong, who Warner lauded as having taught the Prime Minister at Hugh Wooding Law School, labelled Warner the “scapegoat” in the FIFA scandal.
“Indeed, the evidence and allegations against Jack Warner are no more serious than those against other leading officials in FIFA and Concacaf,” Commissiong said in his review of the report.
Story Created: May 21, 2013 at 9:24 PM ECT
Story Updated: May 22, 2013 at 6:54 AM ECT
Three legal minds, enlisted by former government minister Jack Warner, have weighed in on the fairness and independence of the investigative committee responsible for the damning findings of the Concacaf report.
Just one day before he is set to deliver his nomination papers to contest the Chaguanas West seat, Warner highlighted parts of a booklet with the legal opinions of retired Justice of Appeal Zainool Hosein, Andrew Mitchell SC and Betram Commissiong QC, in a bid to clear his name of the allegations of fraud made by the Concacaf integrity committee.
Speaking at a media conference at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya yesterday, Warner said he has already delivered copies of the booklet to key members of the Government, including the Prime Minister and Attorney General.
All three poked holes in the report that pre-empted Warner’s resignation last month.
Hosein, in a signed admission, questioned the independence of the Concacaf committee.
“Clearly Concacaf, as part of the FIFA fabric, has selected, sponsored and has employed the members of the investigating committee,” Hosein said.
He said, based on the report, that it was clear that the investigating committee spoke with witnesses without notifying them of the charges against Warner.
“They didn’t even tell me why I was being investigated. Not once,” Warner said.
Mitchell stated that while the committee consisted of “distinguished jurists”, it has “failed in some fundamental ways to respect the individual rights of those under investigation”.
“It is simply unacceptable to condemn someone without offering the chance to respond to the allegations—no such opportunity was offered,” Mitchell said.
“Their aim was to get Jack Warner or bust,” said Warner.
Commissiong, who Warner lauded as having taught the Prime Minister at Hugh Wooding Law School, labelled Warner the “scapegoat” in the FIFA scandal.
“Indeed, the evidence and allegations against Jack Warner are no more serious than those against other leading officials in FIFA and Concacaf,” Commissiong said in his review of the report.
He also said it appeared that Warner was being “unfairly targeted due to his allegiance to a rival candidate to the incumbent in that (FIFA presidential) election,” adding that the Concacaf report seemed to be malicious and “reeks of vindictive politicking”.