Cops to probe leak at DPP office
POLICE Commissioner Francis Forbes yesterday named deputy head of the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI), Superintendent Maurice Goodgame to conduct investigations into the leaking of information from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions involving files on alleged fraud committed at Operation PRIDE.
Goodgame was yesterday instructed to report directly to the commissioner of police, “and no one else”, on his progress.
Police sources said last night that the “tight security” was to prevent a recurrence of any leak of classified information and hold guilty parties responsible.
Goodgame, who was instructed by Forbes to meet with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Kent Pantry yesterday, declined to comment on the meeting. “I have no comment to any of your questions,” he told the Observer.
Goodgame is to probe how classified information from a case file concerning an alleged case of fraud involving the Operation PRIDE scheme was leaked to the press while in the custody of either police investigators or the DPP.
According to leaked police investigations into the National Housing Development Corporation/Operation PRIDE (NHDC/OP), Danwill Construction Limited allegedly obtained more than $341 million based on false payment certificates submitted to the NHDC/OP.
According to the police files which are before the DPP, it is unclear who is responsible for the payments. It said Danwill Construction accepted a total of $341,149,298. 08 in overpayment and questioned the responsibility of several NHDC personnel who were involved in the authorisation of payment for work done.
Goodgame, an experienced fraud investigator, has intimate knowledge of procedures and systems relative to this type of investigation. He was recently directed to head investigations into a case of alleged police corruption in St Andrew. Six policemen were alleged to have demanded US$1.2 million from a businessman after tendering fake extradition warrants for his arrest. The officers have been arrested and charged and are remanded in custody.
Head of the Constabulary Communication Network Superintendent James Forbes, said among people Goodgame will be interviewing are Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) head, Deputy Commissioner Lucius Thomas; crime chief, Assistant Commissioner Reggie Grant; and head of the Fraud Squad Superintendent Errol Samuels. He will also attempt to interview persons, including journalists who said they saw the files.