PPP to file private criminal charges against Govt officials

The Parliamentary Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has signalled its intention to file private criminal charges against Government officials and is hoping that these charges will also test the immunity of the President.
This was announced by PPP General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during a press conference on Monday morning at Freedom House, Robb Street.He said these private criminal charges will include charges against Government officials who have enriched themselves from the exorbitant salary increases in 2015.
“The argument they are making about enrichment, the asset and enrichment. The basis for which they are looking at the Pradoville issue is that people illegally transferred assets to enrich themselves, then we can prove a case in court that they have taken financial assets of the State, based on a Cabinet decision to give themselves an increase bigger than anyone else, that is enrichment also,” he explained.
He noted that this is why he has grave concerns about what will happen at the Integrity Commission.
“They have sent home all the staff and now they are in possession of all the returns so we know that many of them broke the law and did not file their returns and we are worried that they just stick these things in there and tamper with the records,” he stated.
Jagdeo argued that this should never be the case where a constitutional agency and their records fall under the control of the Executive.
Moreover, he said these criminal charges will also provide an opportunity to test the immunity of the President against prosecution.
Prompted for more details on the matter, the Opposition Leader declined to comment, however, he assured that the legal documents are currently being prepared.