The controversial Security Intelligence Agency (SIA) is back in business after a breif shutdown. Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs made the disclosure to reporters Tuesday.
The unit was closed temporarily after it was revealed that the SIA was illegally spying of citizens. Gibbs was subsequently ordered to conduct an investigation into the agency's operations.
“Some of the things are still ongoing but for the most part (the investigation) is complete and we are moving forward in terms of our intelligence operations,“ he told the media.
"We have finished our investigations in terms of all the work we have done with SIA with the different groups, now it’s a case of letting them get back to doing their job. That’s where it sits at the moment,” Gibbs said.
He explained that the SIA had only been shut down for a few days after which its operations resumed, except for interception, which he described as just "one tool" in the intelligence gathering business.
The commissioner was unable to say if any of the personnel who were engaged in illegal spying would face charges. "We have done our investigations and we have moved on and we are allowing the people to get back to their work,” Gibbs said.
The Special Branch shut down the operations of SIA in early November when police discovered that the SIA had been illegally spying on people by tapping their telephones and intercepting e-mails and text messages.
The persons under surveillance included President Max Richards, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar, COP leader Winston Dookeran and PNM leader Dr Keith Rowley. The government has since introduced the Interception of Communication Bill, was passed unanimously in the House of Representatives last week.
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