Nagra Plunkett and Dionne Rose, Staff Reporters

WESTERN BUREAU:

Thion Colomathi, the son of the People's National Party caretaker/candidate for East Central St. James, and councillor of the Springmount Division, Donald Colomathi, is claiming innocence as the police continue investigations which could see him being charged for additional crimes.

In addition to his gun-related charges stemming from Sunday's fatal shooting, by the police, of the reputed leader of the Stone Crusher gang, Rohan 'Don' Gordon, investi-gators are examining his links to the multimillion-dollar lottery scam.

"We are investigating his involvement in the dial-up (lottery) scam, as we found several pieces of documents to this nature at his home in Mango Walk, St. James," says Superintendent Steve McGreggor, head of the St. James Police Division.

But yesterday, Information Minister, Donald Buchanan, told journalists at the post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House that his father, Donald Colomathi, said his son has denied being involved with the gang.

PNP Investigating

"Comrade Colomathi informed that his son disclaims being a part of any gang and indicated that he was an innocent victim of circumstance with respect to this particular incident," said Mr. Buchanan who is also general secretary of the PNP.

He said the party had met yesterday with Mr. Colomathi at the PNP headquarters. He said the PNP was concerned about the incident and is continuing its own investigations into the matter.

"We are trying to establish precisely what are the relationships with Comrade Colomathi and his son," Buchanan said. "We are particularly concerned about this incident."

Buchanan said the party would be trying to get more detailed information on the matter, including from the police.

Asked if Mr. Colomathi would be removed as councillor, Mr. Buchanan said this would be premature.

"We never take premature action and hasty decisions," he said. "We investigate and have the facts in front of us then deliberate and take decisions."

Slapped with charges

Thion was reportedly handed over to the police by his father on Sunday evening following the shooting, in which Gordon and three of his accomplices reportedly engaged three policemen in a gun battle.

A Taurus 9mm pistol, serial number 96099, with seven live rounds, and a Toyota Corolla motor car registered 0046 EY, were also seized. A cop was also injured during the gunfight.

Young Colomathi, who was later identified as the owner of the car, was slapped with charges of shooting with intent, one count of wounding and illegal possession of a firearm.

"I don't know the extent to which he was involved with those thugs, but we know that he was in the car," Supt. McGreggor added.

The 26-year-old Gordon topped the St. James police most wanted list last November after being featured prominently as the leader of the criminal grouping.

Police Commissioner, Lucius Thomas, also named him as one of the four men behind the crime wave in the parish, and offered a $1 million bounty for their capture.