Cops seize documents

POLICE yesterday searched the Fairways, Maraval home of billionaire businessman Law-rence Andre Duprey, who is the chairman of CLICO, and also searched his main office in the CLICO Building on St Vincent Street in Port-of-Spain.

The search was carried out by officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) led by ASP Joseph Edwards and a member of the Bob Lindquist Forensic Accounting team.

The search was related to evidence given by Duprey at the trial of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on March 27. Panday is on trial for failing to declare his London bank accounts to the Integrity Commission.

In his testimony before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls, Duprey had stated that $1.2 million was given to Panday’s wife Oma on November 1997, as part of financial assistance to go towards scholarships for two of Panday’s daughters, who were studying in England.

Panday’s trial is expected to conclude on Monday when Mc Nicolls gives his ruling.

Duprey was not present during the searches since he is reportedly out of the country. Attorney Sophia Chote who arrived at the Colonial Life Building at about 1 pm, was ushered into the area of one of the top floors where the search was taking place.

She reportedly met with Edwards and was briefed on the reason why the police were carrying out searches. A copy of the search warrant was also shown to Chote.

On leaving the building at 3 pm, the attorney offered a terse “no comment” when Newsday attempted to interview her. Newsday learnt that officers of the ACIB interviewed CLICO employees including accountants and examined electronic financial records.

Yesterday’s search of Duprey’s home and office lasted five hours and ended at about 5.45 pm. Edwards said officers seized some documents during their searches and these will be examined over the weekend by the Bob Lindquist Forensic Accounting team.

During cross-examination by Queens Counsel Sir Timothy Cassel in the trial, Duprey said that the money — ?119,000 — for the scholarships came from CL Financial and CLICO, to pay the scholarship funds.

He added that his company has a fund for scholarships from 1990 to now and the company has given 85 scholarships or more.

This is the second time that Duprey’s home and office have been searched by police. The last time was on October 25 last year, when Duprey and his attorney Gillian Lucky were awaiting the officers.

A day later, Duprey denied reports that documents were seized from his house. In September last year, the Port-of-Spain office of CL Financial was also searched and documents were reportedly seized.