THE ONGOING saga at the state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) took another twist yesterday, with the police being called in to probe allegations of corruption and criminality.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn called in the cops after going through a report submitted by Contractor General Greg Christie.

"The DPP's office has reviewed the report thoroughly but is at this time constrained in its ability to make an informed decision as to whether or not anyone is to be prosecuted for a criminal offence," Llewellyn said.

"In keeping with the dictates of criminal law and the various issues that the director (of public prosecutions) considers when determining to undertake a criminal prosecution, material must be gathered that will enable the Crown to, at the very least, establish a prima facie case," the DPP added.

In handing over the matter to Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, the DPP named media practitioner Susan Simes, her company, Simber Productions Limited, and acting managing director of the JUTC, Bindley Sangster, as persons of interest who should be the target of investigations by the police.

Insufficient evidence

She argued that while the contractor general's report seemed to disclose clear departmental breaches by some individuals, this was not sufficient to initiate criminal proceedings.

"The DPP's office must have the police prepare a file based on their independent and objective investigations before it will be in a position to objectively and dispassionately come to an informed decision in this matter in respect of whether or not to prosecute for any criminal offence," argued Llewellyn in a release issued yesterday.

She claimed this was normal practice adopted by the DPP's office.

Llewellyn was responding to the contractor general who, last month, charged that Sangster committed a criminal act when he wilfully made a false statement "which was designed to mislead the Office of the Contractor General".

That offence is punishable by a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.

The contractor general also raised concern about a possible criminal act in the declaration about the majority shareholder in Simber Productions after the murder of JUTC chairman Douglas Chambers.

Illegal transfer

According to the contractor general, before his untimely death, Chambers was at all times declared the majority stakeholder in Simber Productions, but three weeks after his death, an amended annual report was submitted which listed Simes as the majority shareholder.

Under the law, it is illegal for anyone to transfer or otherwise interfere with the assets of a deceased person.

The transport ministry is expected to use a press conference this morning to provide the country with an update on the state of affairs at the JUTC.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com