Cops to visit Guanapo church

Last week, Fraud Squad officers began perusing documents relating to the church provided to them by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Yesterday, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard told Newsday that having met with Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert last Friday, for a status report on the probe, he will again await another meeting to ascertain how far the investigation has reached.

Police sources said yesterday that investigators are trying to locate one Juliana Pena, who is believed to be the owner of the church which was estimated to cost $30 million.

Pena lives in the United States and she was last believed to be in Africa. She has been reported to be the spiritual adviser of former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

Interpol sources said that they are experiencing difficulties in locating Pena, who is the person most useful to the police probe.

Officers are also expected to interview former Prime Minister Manning, former Udecott chairman Calder Hart, architects and others who are believed to have been directly involved in the construction of the church.

Yesterday, residents of the Heights of Guanapo near to where the church was being constructed, told Newsday that materials at the church site continue to be carted away by Chinese workmen to an unknown destination.

They believe that Government should make the church compound a restricted area, and protect evidence from being removed from the church site. Former Prime Minister Manning has made it clear that no State funds were used in the construction of the church.

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"Cops to visit Guanapo church"

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