The T&T Police Service (TTPS) says it recently sought new information from Google and other email providers in its continuing probe into the series of emails which were purportedly shared between top-ranking government officials, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
So said acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams on Wednesday as he responded to questions from the T&T Guardian on whether the police would also wrap up their investigation soon in the wake of the Integrity Commission’s statement that its had ended.
Noting the Integrity Commission never stated what information it had when it arrived at its decision to terminate its investigation, Williams said that in no way would impede the police’s investigation.
In a media release yesterday, the service’s head of corporate communications, Ellen Lewis, said the two investigating bodies were not aligned in their investigations and that the service was still carrying out its investigations.
It added: “The TTPS had made a request to internet service provider Google, through the Central Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, to provide certain information and to date the request has only been partially satisfied.
“A renewed request was made to Google, via the Central Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, for the outstanding information and this is being awaited. In addition to Google, the TTPS has also renewed its petition, through the Central Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, to other email service providers with respect to an outstanding request for information.”
Lewis added: “By virtue of the oath of office sworn to by police officers, there is an obligation for all police officers to function without favour or affection, malice or ill will and to discharge all duties faithfully according to law.
“In these circumstances, the TTPS continues to be apolitical and focused on conducting its business in a professional manner with respect to Emailgate and any other police investigation. The investigation into Emailgate is not complete and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service will continue to pursue this investigation to completion.”
On May 20, 2013, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley read in Parliament a series of purported emails claiming them to be exchanges between Persad-Bissessar, former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, former minister of local government Surujrattan Rambachan and then national security adviser to the Prime Minister Gary Griffith.
The emails alleged a criminal conspiracy to harm a journalist, plant electronic spying devices in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, offer the DPP a judgeship and accept payment from an unnamed woman in exchange for the freedom of individuals involved in the Section 34 fiasco in September 2012.