Sacked justice minister Herbert Volney says the police should obtain a warrant to search the residence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and top government officials to aid them in bringing the e-mail probe to a speedy close. In an interview yesterday Volney also chastised lawyers who, he claimed, have been using their power to intimidate the police.
Saying he was surprised the police had not yet obtained the warrant Volney added: “I am taken aback that the police have not yet conducted searches and it seems they are intimidated, given what was said from the lawyers representing certain officials. “If the police had not yet been told they should obtain warrants then they should get new attorneys.”
He said the police were empowered by both the statute law and common law to obtain the warrants and they did not have to necessarily go the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. Once investigators had reasonable grounds there were physical items which could assist them in their investigation of a criminal offence or a suspected criminal offence a constable could swear to that information before a Justice of Peace or a magistrate to search any premises and to seize any such items, he added.
Asked if this could also include the residence of the Prime Minister, the attorney general and government ministers Volney said: “The law does not recognise the office of anybody. “The police should act according to the law which is obtaining a search warrant and search and seize what they are looking for.” Volney said in the course of investigations if a wrong phone was handed to the police that person could be charged with perverting the course of public justice.
“It seems that bit of evidence is most critical to link the person of interest with the instrument by what the e-mail is alleged to have transmitted and it is critical these devices be obtained and identified,” he added. Volney said he was interviewed by the police last week.
He said based on the questions he was asked by the investigators the police were on the right track.
Cops ask PM to co-operate
Persad-Bissessar has been asked to co-operate with the police in the e-mail probe and to stop demoralising the Police Service. Making the call yesterday was president of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association, acting inspector Anand Ramesar, in wake of statements made by Persad-Bissessar. “I am making a plea, including to the Prime Minister, to stop attacking the Police Service. This is unwarranted and unfair,” Ramesar said.
Despite saying she remained committed to work with the police Persad-Bissessar said she would not allow them to pursue a “witch-hunt” by exposing the private and confidential information on her devices. She said so at the UNC’s Monday Night Forum at Vishnu Boys’ Hindu School, Caroni, where she addressed reports she had not handed over her mobile phone and computers to the police for investigation.
The Prime Minister also accused the police of wanting to “clone” the information on her devices. Describing the accusations as unfortunate Ramesar said that not only demoralised the Police Service but could tarnish the organisation’s image. “It is always unfortunate to the morale of the Police Service when members in high office, especially those on the National Security Council, make comments that adversely impact on the moral, performance, integrity and impartiality of the Police Service,” Ramesar said.
He said what seemed to elude the “high office-holders” was the need for them to demonstrate they were above board as it related to the investigation. He added: “It is a responsibility to them to clear their name. It is imperative they support this investigation which has national consequences, whether it is true or not. “We will want to see the relevant persons walk-the-talk and substantively assist in the investigation.”
He said criticism of the Police Service was viewed by the membership as a “constructed attack” on it. Contacted yesterday acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams said Deputy Police Commissioner Mervyn Richardson was in charge of the e-mail probe.