Lead investigator in the Section 34 e-mail probe Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson has confirmed Google has been contacted by his investigating team. Richardson, speaking in a telephone interview yesterday, did not want to say by what channel contact was made with Google or what information was being sought.
Police sources, however, said investigators were seeking to verify e-mail addresses and e-mail messages which were revealed on May 20 by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley during a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Google is the domain that hosts one of the e-mail addresses used in the alleged discussions.
The series of e-mails alleged a conspiracy among senior government officials to commit crimes that included possibly physically harming a journalist and perverting the course of justice. Richardson also shot down allegations by attorney Israel Khan, SC, who is representing Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the matter, that the police were dragging their feet on the investigation. In fact, Richardson has thrown his full support behind his officers, saying they are working “well above and beyond the call” to seek answers.
At a press conference at his Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, chambers on Monday, Khan also accused the police of playing politics. Yesterday, Richardson responded: “Mr Khan is entitled to his opinion. He’s an attorney and he is also entitled to express that publicly but I know for a fact that my officers have been working well beyond their call with this investigation, which is very sensitive.
“We are also working very diligently and with a certain degree of speed because we want to get to the bottom of this like everybody else,” he added. Assuring the public that the probe was alive and well, he said the police had already interviewed several people. “I am very satisfied with how the investigation has been progressing thus far and I am satisfied with the work of the police.”
Khan asked why the police had not examined the computers and other electronic devices of Persad-Bissessar, especially since she sent a statement to the police on June 10 saying she was willing to have them examined. Asked why this had not been done, Richardson said, “We will do so in due course.” Among those interviewed so far are journalists who reported on issues relating to events discussed in the e-mails.
Police who called them in for interviews were not familiar with their reports, however, saying they did not know how to obtain copies, and they did not appear to be aware that the media reports could be found online. Much of the information they were seeking in the interviews was already available from the reports.
AG: Police must act quickly
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, who said he was not aware of how far the police had progressed in the probe, yesterday urged them to treat the investigation with “utmost urgency,” as the accusation had stained the character and reputation of the Government and the country. “This investigation requires quick action in the shortest possible time,” he added.
Saying he had no problem in providing his password, computer and other electronic devices to the police, Ramlogan said searching computers was “merely secondary,” as verification of the IP addresses was immediately needed to determine if the e-mails were fake. He said: “I sincerely hope the police have made contact with Google in an effort to verify the e-mail addresses never existed. It is only a matter of time before the entire fiasco backfires in the face of the PNM.”
SIDEBAR
Police sources said the request to Google could go through the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which allows a foreign government to ask the US government for assistance in obtaining evidence from entities in the US, including companies. The request can only be made via the Central Authority, which falls under the office of the Attorney General. If the MLAT is not used, then a joint T&T/US investigation could also be made through a High Court order.