Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Saturday she had no prior knowledge about the decision by Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard to ask the police to charge former junior cabinet minister Collin Partap.
The PM fired Partap after an incident involving police. Partap had initially refused to take a breathalyser test but eventually did it. The result show3d his blood alcohol level was within the legal limit.
Gaspar has asked police for failing to take the test.
The PM told reporters, "That is a police matter...and as a lawyer I say a man is innocent until proven guilty." She also said she does not wish to comment on the matter because it would be trespassing on another independent arm of the state state.
However she praised the DPP. "I will say further that we must really congratulate the DPP. He has worked rapidly in getting this matter before the police and I hope that some other outstanding matters that have been under investigations for years, would come to the front in a short space of time.”
Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams told the media he would act on the DPP's instructions in the matter. He said, "There was an incident and it was investigated."
The PM told reporters, "That is a police matter...and as a lawyer I say a man is innocent until proven guilty." She also said she does not wish to comment on the matter because it would be trespassing on another independent arm of the state state.
However she praised the DPP. "I will say further that we must really congratulate the DPP. He has worked rapidly in getting this matter before the police and I hope that some other outstanding matters that have been under investigations for years, would come to the front in a short space of time.”
Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams told the media he would act on the DPP's instructions in the matter. He said, "There was an incident and it was investigated."
Williams added that the matter was not "clear cut" so the police sought the advice of the DPP. He did not say when the police would charge Partap. "The issue is the DPP advised that MP Collin Partap is to be charged for an offence. That instruction has been passed on to me," Williams told the Guardian.
He dismissed suggestions that he has been delaying action against the former minister. "That envelope (from the DPP) was opened on Friday afternoon. How could I comply with something from Monday when it came to my knowledge on Friday afternoon? You discern from that," he said.
He dismissed suggestions that he has been delaying action against the former minister. "That envelope (from the DPP) was opened on Friday afternoon. How could I comply with something from Monday when it came to my knowledge on Friday afternoon? You discern from that," he said.
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