THE Prime Minister has denied knowledge of any police probe against him concerning the withdrawn CoP merit list.

He was responding to TV6 news on Thursday, after UNC Senator David Nakhid claimed in Parliament that he was called as a witness by the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau into a probe into allegations of misbehaviour in public office by Dr Rowley.

Rowley said, 'At this time, I know of no such investigation by any arm of the State.'

He lamented that the budget debate had descended into a UNC search for scandal and 'when you have nothing to effectively assail the actual budgetary provisions, invent and invoke or revel in scandals, real or imaginary.'

In the Senate Chamber on Thursday, there were murmurs of shock from opposition senators after Nakhid's announcement.

He was responding to a comment by Independent Senator Anthony Vieira, who has said that TT's democracy was stable. Nakhid countered by saying that if this was true, independent institutions would be insulated from political interference.

'Clearly this has not been the case, not only by the recent Vincent Nelson revelations, but when we look at what happened in the selection of a CoP, I would like to declare here that I have been brought before the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau to question the Prime Minister for his misbehaviour in public office.

'He is now under official investigation. They also said they had questioned other witnesses, and if they would like to speak, that is up to them. So we have a sitting PM who the ACIB is looking into his misbehaviour into public office.'

Senate Vice President Dr Muhammad Yunus Ibrahim attempted to temper Nakhid's statements, saying: 'The disclosure you just made may be in full confidence. Please be reminded of standing order 47 (49).'

Nakhid said he asked the people who questioned him and they said an investigation had been launched.

'I am one of the witnesses, so I don't know, it's not as sub-judice, I think I can reveal that.'

Standing order 49 (1) says, '...a member shall not raise or pursue any matter which relates to active proceedings until the matter is ended by judgment or discontinuance, unless the Speaker is satisfied that: the matter is clearly related to a matter of general public importance or a ministerial decision is in question; the matter does not relate to a case that is awaiting or under adjudication, particularly those matters before a jury; and, the member does not in his comments create a real and substantial danger of prejudice to the fair determination of a matter.'

Speaking to Newsday after his presentation, Nakhid said he was approached by the ACIB as he had sent letters to the DPP and acting CoP McDonald Jacob about Rowley's role in the withdrawal of the CoP merit list.

'They finally responded. Apparently, the matter was referred to the ACIB and they had an interview with me about it a week, ten days ago. They had been given some of the letters I had sent to Jacobs, or the DPP, but they clearly did not have all the documentation so I pro