US-based e-mail service provider Google has requested more time to comply with a subpoena from a California court to provide the e-mail records of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to the Integrity Commission. A CNC 3 News report said last night this has been the third request for an extension following the ruling on August 14. Deputy chairman of the Commission retired Justice Sebastian Ventour told CNC 3, when the second extension expired last Thursday, Google requested a further extension.
The extension was granted, Ventour said, although the Commission opposed the application but complied with advice from its attorneys to avoid any contention in the matter. Ventour said Google was still awaiting responses from attorneys representing the Prime Minister and the Attorney General but was assured that their legal teams have expressed all willingness to cooperate.
Ventour said it was difficult to proceed with the investigation without the information from Google.
Back in September 2012, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, disclosed a 31 e-mails alleging a criminal conspiracy, to harm a journalist, spy on the Director of Public Prosecutions, and get him out of office, in the aftermath of the Section 34 proclamation, which many felt was passed to favour two government financiers charged with a series of fraud offences. Ramlogan says the e-mails are fake and claimed that Google had effectively cleared both him and the Prime Minister of any involvement in the E-mailgate fiasco.
