DPP and Police Legal Adviser deny their offices responsible for SOCU’s sloth in taking cases to Court

When News Source spoke to the Police Legal Adviser, retired Justice Claudette Singh, she denied that there were any delays in any of the matters before her, although not saying how many cases were engaging her attention. 

DPP and Police Legal Adviser deny their offices responsible for SOCU’s sloth in taking cases to Court

Guyana’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack and the Police Legal Adviser, retired Justice Claudette Singh are both brushing aside claims by the British Adviser on financial crimes investigations, Sam Sittlington, who recently complained of delays into ongoing financial crimes investigations being pursued by the Special Organised Crime Unit.

Days after returning to Guyana to work along with SOCU, the British Financial Crimes Investigator raised concern over what he said, were delays in ensuring that the cases are taken before the Courts.

His concerns are not sitting well with the DPP and the Police Legal Adviser, who both denied on Wednesday that this was the case, especially based on the work of their offices.

SOCU would usually forward its cases to the DPP or Police Legal Adviser for guidance on how the matter should be proceeded with in the Courts.

When News Source spoke to the Police Legal Adviser, retired Justice Claudette Singh, she denied that there were any delays in any of the matters before her, although not saying how many cases were engaging her attention.

“I don’t know what the UK adviser has said because I was not in the country. I do not know what matters he is speaking about because all the matters I have are in progress and there are things being done.”

Justice Singh could not say how many matters were engaging her attention but insisted that they were all being addressed with some having been returned to SOCU for more information.

“It is not like the files are static… we cannot just charge people we have to do so after investigations are competed.”

The PLE indicated that some of the cases are not completed and have been returned.

There is likely to be a meeting with Sittlington and the PLE and she intends to ask him for clarity.

Meanwhile, the DPP has indicated that her Chamber only had four matters which it received from SOCU last week.

“Those files have received attentions. One of them left last week and the remaining three are leaving today or tomorrow,” the DPP said.

She denied that whatever delays existed were as a result of work being done by her Chamber.

The DPP could not say what matters those files dealt with and said the UK advisor has not requested a meeting with her.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login