DPP says there's no need to probe former Attorney General

Director of Public Prosecution Geoffrey Henderson has responded to the Criminal bar Association's call for an investigation into allegations about the involvement of former attorney general John Jeremie in the Home Construction Limited repurchase of land, owned by Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls. Henderson says there's no need for any probe.

The President of the Criminal Bar Association Desmond Allum wrote Henderson earlier this month asking for an investigation into possible criminal conduct committed by Jeremie. Jeremie.

Henderson replied in a letter dated July 22.

He said, "Having reviewed the material in my own right...I have been unable to find any basis to conclude criminal conduct on the part of Mr Jeremie".

Henderson also noted that his office has no investigative powers, "either express or implied" under Section 90 of the Constitution.

"Such powers reside solely with the police who have conducted investigations into this affair," he wrote.

"As you will recall, both the Chief Justice and the Chief Magistrate registered complaints against each other. The Chief Justice aired his complaints publicly by way of press releases. The Chief Magistrate complained by written statement submitted to the Honourable Prime Minister and subsequently passed to the Attorney General, John Jeremie," Henderson said in his response to Allum.

Henderson said he had carefully considered the contents of Allum's letter and had since had an opportunity to consider the contents of the Police investigator's report.

He suggested that if Allum had additional material he should present it.

"The police investigator in his report, found no material to provide a basis to conclude any unlawful act or conduct on the part of Mr Jeremie. Neither in the police report and witness statements contained therein, nor in the record of the evidence given in the Section 137 Mustill Tribunal hearings, have I been able to locate material that asserts that Mr Jeremie received a cheque from HCL as your letter suggests. If such does exist, please identify that material so that this may be considered," he said.