DPP Office close to completing CLICO investigation

ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi says the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is close to concluding its criminal investigation into those responsible for the CLICO collapse.

He was responding to a question in Senate yesterday from Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen on the total amount of monies paid to the Office of the DPP for the period September 2015 to September 2018 on instituting criminal proceedings against people deemed responsible for the 2009 financial demise of CLICO.

Al-Rawi said the total amount of monies paid for the period was $125,688,798. He added the sum will go upwards with the inclusion of two sets of further fees which the Office of the DPP was not able to compute in time.

Ramdeen had also asked how many people have had criminal charges proffered against them arising out of the matter and Al-Rawi responded no has had criminal charges proffered against them.

Ramdeen then asked how long the investigations will continue. Al-Rawi said the investigations into the matter by the DPP have been proceeding since 2013 to date and the figures represent approximately $180 million in expenditure for fees "the time frame specifically for the conclusion of the investigation is one which rests exclusively with the Office of the DPP."

He added: "I have been informed and I believe that the office is close to its conclusion. That's the information which is provided to me."

Al-Rawi stressed by the Constitution he cannot make any direct enquiry into the matter.

"Suffice it to say that the Government trusts that the DPP is moving with alacrity as he always was."