Jamaica seeks evidence from UK in Hibbert probe
Published:Wednesday | July 6, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter
JAMAICA HAS asked the United Kingdom to supply certain potential evidential material as law enforcement agents continue the corruption investigations against parliamentarian and former state minister, Joseph Hibbert.
Paula Llewellyn, the director of public prosecutions, yesterday told The Gleaner that investigators in Britain have been asked to supply the information under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT).
"It is a process, and certain things are being done, but that's all I am at liberty to say," Llewellyn told The Gleaner, noting that MLAT matters are highly confidential.
Senior Superintendent of Police Fitz Bailey, head of the Organised Crime Investigation Division, said he could not give an update on the Hibbert case.
"The process is in train and until that is completed, there is nothing the police can do at this time," Bailey said in reference to efforts to get evidentiary material under MLAT.
Last year, assistant commissioner of police in charge of crime, Les Green, told The Gleaner that the information would give his team access to important evidence that was used in the recently concluded corruption case against British bridge-building giants, Mabey & Johnson.
Contractor General Greg Christie, in a report to Parliament, recommended that Hibbert be charged for corruption, perjury and for breaching the Contractor General Act, citing sworn statements from the UK's Serious Fraud Office.
"There is sufficient compelling material to be referred to the commissioner of police and his assigned investigators for further enquiries, Christie had said."
Green also said Mabey & Johnson officials were cooperating with his investigations and that several witnesses who gave evidence against the company had agreed to give evidence in Jamaica.
"We know what we are after, we know where it is, and we are going after it," he said.
The investigations have picked up pace since Llewellyn sent the case back to the police.
Hibbert is accused of accepting bribes from Mabey & Johnson when he served as chief technical director in the Ministry of Transport and Works between 1989 and 2003.
Hibbert has denied the allegations.