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Integrity body to defend decision to end probe against PM - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

THE Integrity Commission now has to defend its decision to terminate an investigation against the Prime Minister relating to the purchase of a townhouse in Tobago.

On Thursday, a High Court judge gave permission to political activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj to pursue a claim against the commission and declarations that the decision to terminate its investigation of the Prime Minister and/or refuse to open it was illegal, unfair, unreasonable and irrational.

The decision came days after the commission came under fire from the Prime Minister after it filed a lawsuit seeking clarity from the court over its funding. The PM accused the commission of engaging in “far too many ill-advised and politically motivated investigations.”

Maharaj also wants the court to declare that the decision to reject his complaint against Rowley was unlawful and that the decision that the Prime Minister was not required to include a statement providing particulars of a gift in the form of a discount under the Integrity in Public Life Act was also illegal. He wants the court to send back his complaints to the commission for reconsideration.

Leave was granted by Justice Devindra Rampersad on January 11. The matter has been adjourned for a case management hearing on February 23.

The Integrity Commission has investigated two previous complaints over Rowley’s purchase of a townhouse in the Inez Gate development in Tobago, from contractor Allan Warner.

The first complaint was by UNC MP Saddam Hosein in 2021 on an alleged failure by Rowley to declare his ownership of the property on one of the forms and the discounted price.

In June 2023, the investigation into that complaint was discontinued by the commission. Maharaj challenged the decision to end the investigation and the commission, in September 2023, resolved not to reopen it.

It also informed Maharaj that there were no reasonable grounds to draw the inference that Rowley knowingly made a false statement on the estimated value of the townhouse, rejecting any insinuation of political bias. On the Prime Minister’s omission to declare the townhouse on the Form B of his declaration, only the Form A, was also challenged by Maharaj as well as a failure to disclose a discount he received on the purchase.

[caption id="attachment_1056683" align="alignnone" width="600"] A section of the Inez Gate condominiums, at Shirvan Road, Mt Pleasant, Tobago. -[/caption]

Again in August 2023, Maharaj made a new complaint, critiquing the investigative process and in November he was told it was rejected although the commission determined Rowley had received a discount amounting to a gift but it was not connected with the performance of his duties as prime minister.

With his complaints being rejected, Maharaj approached the court challenging the commission with six complaints. His application provided copies of deeds registered to Rowley, his wife Sharon, and another to his daughter Sonel, who also purchased another townhouse in the development.

Maharaj said he also sought information from the

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