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  • 5 hours ago

Key files in the CEPEP corruption matter has gone missing.

Well, that's according to Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Barry Padarath who says, the issue is engaging the attention of the police.

Alicia Boucher has the details.




Transcript
00:00Commenting on a ruling by the Court of Appeal to State Eastman Enterprises test case in relation to its dismissed injunction
00:07and finding that the referral of the case to the DPP was wrong,
00:11Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Barry Padarat says a new development has been brought to his attention.
00:16The information coming to me from CPEP yesterday evening was that there are regional managers
00:24that were hired by the former administration that are alleged to have removed several key files
00:30involving the matters that are before the courts right now regarding contractors.
00:35I am advised that between today and tomorrow there will be intervention by the Trinidad-Tobago Police Service.
00:43Padarat says this intervention will in part be to secure the files that are at CPEP at this time
00:48as well as to probe into what has transpired.
00:51And finding out why some of those files were removed.
00:56I respect the ruling of the appellate judges.
01:00It is not the final ruling because we do have the opportunity to challenge this at the Privy Council.
01:08I am in touch with the chairman of CPEP as well as our advocate, who is senior counsel, Anand Ramlogan,
01:14who is still abroad at the Privy Council.
01:16We feel very comfortable in the actions that we have taken.
01:19But what we are a bit uncomfortable with is why files are being moved out hurriedly.
01:24He states that some of the files are directly related to some of the contractors
01:28and some of the matters that were to be referred for the DPP's deliberation.
01:32Nonetheless, Padarat says that it will abide by the appeal court's ruling,
01:36which in essence places a hold on that aspect of the matter.
01:40As for what's next?
01:42I'm waiting for legal advice on this matter,
01:45but I have a lawyer to Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, the Minister of National Security,
01:50as it relates to these files that are being removed from CPEP over the last couple of weeks.
01:55And you have to ask why.
01:57Why are these files being removed surreptitiously?
02:00Why are these files being removed after hours at CPEP?
02:03And it only has to do with specific contractors that were hired just before the general election.
02:09Padarat says someone must be held accountable.
02:12The People's National Movement has also responded to the appeal court ruling,
02:16noting the state to allow for dispute resolution,
02:19and the setting aside of the order by High Court Judge Margaret Mohamed
02:22for the Register of the High Court to forward the documents to the DPP
02:26on what they called untested evidence relating to people who are not before the court.
02:32The appeal court judge also said that if the matter is to be continued,
02:36it should be placed before another judge.
02:38The PNM says, quote,
02:39This unanimous judgment of the Court of Appeal represents a major reversal
02:43of certain aspects of the rulings in the Eastman matter to date.
02:47The People's National Movement is considering the next steps,
02:50as may be advised by our attorneys in the matter.
02:54End quote.
02:56End quote.
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