Friday, April 2, 2010

DPP gets status report on probe of Bakr affidavit

Acting police commissioner James Philbert has submitted a status report to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard on investigation into an affidavit sworn by Jamaat al Muslimeen leader Iman Yasin Abu Bakr in 2006.

The DPP has confirmed that Philbert submitted the report, and in response to media inquiries he stated that "the investigation is well underway. At this stage I am content to allow the police to do their work.”

Bakr's affidavit alleges that he had a deal with Prime Minister Patrick Manning for spacial favours in return for the Muslimeen's help in winning the general election in 2002.

Bakr claimed that Manning promised to give the Muslimeen a school under the Concordat and to suppress a High Court order calling for the Jamaat to pay $15 million in damages for the 1990 attempted coup.

Officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) have interviewed Manning and Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert on the Bakr affidavit.

Read the full background to the story:
Police question PM Manning on Bakr affidavit

Manning's wife, Senator Hazel Manning, confirmed to reporters earlier this week that she met with Bakr while she was education minister and said she is preparing a report for the police.

Former PNM ministers Ken Valley and John Rahael have also submitted statements to the police. Former PNM treasurer Andre Monteil has also prepared a note for police, reports say.

Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai