Who reported me to Integrity Commission?

FORMER UNC govern-ment minister Finbar Gangar wants to know who reported him to the Integrity Commission. He also wants copies of all reports of the Integrity Commission for the period 1987 to 1999. These were two of the 12 questions raised by Gangar’s attorney Prakash Ramadhar when the former minister appeared before Senior Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrates’ Court yesterday on two charges of failing to declare to the Integrity Commission two bank accounts in Jersey, Channel Islands, two in New York, and one each in Royal Bank and Scotiabank in South Trinidad.

It is alleged that Gangar failed to declare his six bank accounts to the Integrity Commission for the years 1998 and 1999. When the matter was called yesterday, Ramadhar asked for full disclosure of documents. He said based on the documents, attorneys for the former minister will decide whether to make a preliminary point on abuse of process, or inequality of treatment. Ramadhar, who led Robin Otway and Vish Rambaran, then posed 12 questions to prosecutor Roger Gaspard, the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP):

1) Can you please furnish the defence with all the reports of the Integrity Commission for the period 1987 to 1999?
2) The name (s) of any person (s) who have not filed declarations with the Integrity Commission.
3) Did any person make false declarations during this period?
4) If yes, please state the names.
5) Were these matters reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions?
6) Who made the report in relation to Mr Gangar to the Integrity Commission?
7) When was that report made?
8) At whose request was the investigation started, and when?
9) When was the decision made to lay the charges?
10) We would like to get copies of any correspondence between Government officials and the Integrity Commission, any correspondence between the Integrity Commission and the DPP, and any minutes of the Integrity Commission in relation to this matter.
11) Were any persons ever allowed to correct errors in their declarations?
12) We would like full disclosure of all information, re: records obtained during the investigations into this matter.

In response, Gaspard said he would need time to look at the request. He said that after mature consideration, if he is of the view that all or any of the items fall within the purview, they will be disclosed. Ramadhar pointed out that based on what is disclosed, he would decide what, if any, submission he would make, either before the magistrate or in the High Court. Magistrate Espinet asked Gaspard if three weeks would be enough time for him to respond as she wanted to deal with this matter within a reasonable time. She pointed out that the alleged offences were committed in 1999 and this is 2004. Hearing was then adjourned to November 30.