'Callous' - JLP attorney under fire for exposing Lewin's wife

Former police commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin has dismissed suggestions from one attorney that his wife tipped him off in 2009 about the pending United States extradition request for ousted Tivoli Gardens enforcer Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

Frank Phipps, attorney representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at the commission of enquiry examining the Government's handling of the request, revealed that Lewin's wife works in the narcotics affairs section of the United States Embassy in Kingston.

Phipps suggested that Lewin's wife was the individual who told the former commissioner about the request for Coke one day before the formal request was made by the US. Lewin rejected the assertion, but refused to say who gave him the information.

Later yesterday, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) said it viewed with "great concern what we regard as the irresponsible actions" of Phipps in disclosing the identity and employment details of Lewin's wife.

"The party is of the view that the line of questioning, while clearly designed to discredit Rear Admiral Lewin, could also be far more damaging, as it has potentially exposed the wife of the former commissioner of police to grave danger, given the sensitive nature of her employment," the PNP said in a release. "In this regard, Mr. Phipps' actions are callous and insensitive and must be condemned."

Earlier during the meeting of the commission, Lewin, who once described Tivoli Gardens as the "mother of all garrisons", said the security forces had a plan to capture Coke, accused drug kingpin, which was aimed at minimising damage to the country.

Lewin also told the commission that the memoranda of understanding (MoUs), two sets of agreements which were entered into by agents of the Jamaican, US, and United Kingdom governments, were secret and he would not explore them.

Phipps claims the MoUs are a breach of the constitutional rights of citizens as they permit agents of the State to intercept people's telephone conversations without an order from a court.

"Every interception that I am aware of, as chief of staff, and as commissioner of police, was done in accordance with Jamaican laws," Lewin declared.

"This is entirely linked to Jamaican laws, the Interception of Communications Act. This is a feed from where the intercept takes place under Jamaican law to enable the gathering of evidence."

Lewin told the commission that the information gathered "goes to JND (Jamaica Narcotics Division)" which then uses it to seek evidence.

He also said he would not be a party to the disclosure of classified matters such as the plan to capture Coke.

Solicitor General Douglas Leys is today expected to outline to the commission his interaction with American law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, which was hired to lobby the US government to prevent Coke's extradition.

Evidence has been given during the enquiry that the firm was hired by the JLP, which forms the Government.

According to that evidence, Leys, a public servant, attended meetings with Manatt in his capacity as solicitor general, and engaged in email communication with representatives of the law firm as part of the lobby effort.