00:00 Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Intelligence Kurt Simon, questioned by TV6 News, said that
00:06 Education Secretary Zerisha Hackett went to the civil court and received a stay in her
00:11 criminal matter in the civil court and the matter would be heard again in the Tobago
00:16 Magistrates Court.
00:17 THA employee Kevon McKenna was also charged with failure to disclose pertinent information
00:23 to police.
00:25 His matter was adjourned to September in what is a new twist to the Audiogate scandal.
00:31 Both Hackett and McKenna were charged by members of the White Collar Crime Unit.
00:36 Meantime, at Thursday's police media briefing, Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Intelligence
00:42 Kurt Simon spoke about whistleblower Akil Abdullah and his recent comments in the public
00:48 domain.
00:49 "The Tobago Police Service, we are aware of statements being made in the public arena.
00:56 We are aware of video recordings and audio recordings out in the public giving information
01:04 about certain things happening, particularly in Tobago, and linking the TTPS and perhaps
01:12 even the government to some of these activities."
01:15 DCP Simon sought to debunk any notion that the TTPS intends to dismantle the present
01:22 THA administration.
01:23 "These are conversations, they also follow allegations that there is some sort of collusion
01:30 between the government of Triantebago and this TTPS, this Triantebago Police Service,
01:35 to remove individuals from holding public office.
01:43 The Triantebago Police Service at this stage wishes to continually deny and refute these
01:52 allegations."
01:53 The DCP said officers expect to widen the investigation into the AudioGate scandal,
02:00 where two top THA officials are heard conspiring to use public funds for propaganda.
02:05 On June 16, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine confirmed that the audio recording was a strategic
02:12 planning meeting held by him and other members of the THA executive.
02:18 "We are investigating certain reports and certainly based on what is going on within
02:26 our investigations and what is being bandied about, we do see that there is a possibility
02:34 that we would widen the net of our investigations."
02:39 Officer Simon reiterated that the TTPS is not in collusion with the government and the
02:45 controversial audio recording investigation continues in a professional and lawful manner.
02:51 "I am here again to deny any allegation of any collusion or any motivation by any government
02:57 entity telling the TTPS what investigation to do and what not to do."
03:03 Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
03:05 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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