The Sunday Guardian also understands that Yuille-Williams is expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing in the allegation that she and the administrators of the Scholarship Fund were guilty of misconduct and misbehaviour in public office.
Williams’s case was referred to the DPP in 2013 after a forensic report unearthed several anomalies in the award of scholarships under Williams.
Some of the issues highlighted were that some 225 people with no filed applications received funding of just under $11 million ($10,997,552) in aggregate over the review period; that submitted files of 1,295 applicants contained no documentation that provided any evidence of financial need or untoward socio-economic circumstances; and that 420 of the applicants who provided no evidence of financial need in their applications received funding amounting to $20.1 million in aggregate over the review period.
Even if any of the former ministers are found to be in breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act, there is no sanction. There must be evidence of at least misbehaviour in public office for any charges to be laid against alleged wrongdoers.
The last summary report published by the Integrity Commission lists at least eight investigations that have been forwarded to the DPP, the majority of which are ready to be closed or returned for further investigations.
One such case, involving allegations against former Udecott chairman Calder Hart, has already been thrown out by the DPP on the grounds that it is not a criminal matter. Hart’s matter is currently before the civil courts, as the Government is seeking to recover some $100 million from Hart.
The Sunday Guardian understands that Hart has retained local legal representation and the matter is moving through the judicial system.