The wrong message
published: Thursday | March 13, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE DECISION of the Director of Public Prosecution to drop charges against Mr. Peralto and Mr. Wallace, for failing to submit their annual financial statements - as required by law - to the Integrity Commission has sent the wrong message to all who must submit annual financial statements.
This precedent-setting decision - to my mind - has rendered the integrity statute a toothless, paper tiger. Every person who has to submit to this law, whether they agree or not, know they can - at least once - frown at the law. Instead of making an example of Peralto and Wallace, the DPP slapped them on the wrists and admonished them not to do it again.
It is said that "laws were made by the superior (elite) for the inferior (poor) to obey". A poor or less connected person, in similar situation would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We should note also that Mr. Peralto and Mr. Wallace had ample time to obey the law. They chose not to obey.
The DPP should be held accountable. He owes the nation an explanation for his decision -not to go to trial with these offenders that blatantly violated the law.
