DPP rules out wire-tap charges for cops

THE DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kent Pantry, has ruled no member of the police force is to be charged in relation to investigations and allegations of illegal wire-tapping and drug-related activities.

But The Gleaner has been informed the DPP has stated in his ruling he is "looking at evidence" to see if any policemen are implicated.

According to police sources, the DPP ruled last Friday that two Cable & Wireless technicians and Roderick "Jimmy" McGregor, the man who headed the civilian-led Intelligence Unit, should be charged in connection with allegations of illegal wire-tapping.

However, Cable and Wireless Jamaica said yesterday it was unable to confirm if any of its employees had been implicated.

Mr. Pantry's office confirmed yesterday the file was sent to Assistant Commissioner Osbourne Dyer's office yesterday morning. Contacted yesterday afternoon, Mr. Dyer said he received the file and had sent it to the office of Police Commissioner Francis Forbes. The Gleaner tried to contact Commissioner Forbes but his office said he was unavailable.

The DPP's ruling last Friday follows months of investigation into allegations of illegal wire-tapping activities.

In October last year, The Sunday Gleaner broke the story of the alleged illegal wire-tapping, which was said to have resulted in the illegal tapping of the telephones of the Prime Minister, several of his Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Commissioner of Police Owen Clunie, Region Three chairman Paul Burke and alleged drug traffickers.

The illegal operation was said to have been carried out from offices based at Lady Musgrave Road. Following the publication, the Prime Minister ordered an investigation into the matter, pledging the support of external investigators to the DPP.

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