Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator

Lightbourne

The Government is pushing to fulfil its first 100 days pledge to draft legislation setting up two major investigative bodies - an independent commission to probe extrajudicial killings and abuse by members of the security forces and a special prosecutor to tackle high-level corruption in both the public and private sectors.

Cabinet on Monday gave approval for legislation to be drafted to establish two commissions of Parliament to administer the work of an independent commission and the special prosecutor.

The independent commission, yet to be named, will comprise a chairman, commissioner, directors and investigators.

Overseas assistance will be provided in training investigators of the commission.

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, said the move to establish the independent commission was a direct response to public outcry about extrajudicial killings by the police.

No confidence

There is the perception that the current Police Public Complaints Authority (PPCA), which investigates its colleagues, does not enjoy the full confidence of the public to be impartial in its investigations.

"They will be able to go in and take over a crime scene and they'll either conduct the investigations themselves or they will supervise the police in the investigation," the Attorney-General said, adding that they would be given the powers of a constable.

Addressing journalists yesterday at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Senator Lightbourne said not only would the commission replace the PPCA, but it would be given an expanded role in investigating property damage, sexual assault, assault and other alleged offences committed by members of the security forces.

The independent commission will be required to submit quarterly reports to Parliament and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) or the commissioner of police will act upon its findings.

A 24-hour toll-free line will be set up by the commission to receive complaints from members of the public and the investigative body will provide frequent reports to the public on its investigations.

The Attorney-General said that when "serious shootings (and) killings by the security forces (occur)", the commission would conduct the investigation.

She said the crime scene must not be touched by the police. "Even if a senior officer (police or JDF) is at the scene before one of the officers of this commission, that officer will be obliged under the law to preserve the scene until the arrival of one of the commission's representatives," she stressed.

The special prosecutor, to be appointed by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, will have the task to eradicate "high-level corruption" in the society.

Senator Lightbourne said the special prosecutor would not be involved in asset recovery, but would turn over this aspect of the investigation to the DPP.

The special prosecutor, as part of his mandate, can initiate an investigation into alleged corruption.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com