Georgetown: Even as much talk continues about the appointment of Guyanese attorney-at-law Sanjeev Datadin to the position of Special Constable to probe a high level fraud case in Antigua, the matter has been taken to the territory’s Police Service Commission (PSC) requesting that the attorney be appointed. This is according to a report emanating from the Observer News which revealed that the attorney could still be appointed as an assistant to the police to investigate the IHI Debt Settlement issue and other matters related to serious commercial fraud.
This development, the article pointed out was made yesterday by Minister of National Security Dr. Errol Cort, and came after he and Attorney General, Justin Simon, said a procedural error made Datadin’s January 3 appointment as a special constable null and void.
The attorney of 14 years took the oath of office in the presence of Commissioner of Police, Vere Browne, and Chief Magistrate, Joanne Walsh, but according to Dr. Cort the correct procedure is now being followed. “The route to take is spelt out in Section 72 of the Police Act, so the police have now confirmed to that particular situation and have sought to correct that apparent breach in procedures and the matter is before the Police Service Commission for consideration with a detailed rationale,” he said.
Stating that the police have laid out a strong case, the minister said he could not give further details since the matter is sensitive.
The Antigua Labour Party (ALP), two of whose members are the targets of the IHI probe, has described the appointment as political and diversionary. The fraud case also saw police authorizes seeking the whereabouts of former Ambassador and current Columnist of the Guyana based Kaieteur News paper, Guyanese Sir Ronald Sanders.
Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan also condemned the development, accusing the government of trying to subvert the position of the Director of Public Prosecution.
He said further, there appeared to be a conflict of interest as Datadin has represented members of the ruling United Progressive Party, including Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer, who is being sued for defamation by Bird.
Datadin has since denied any conflict.
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