In preparation for the closure of Petrotrin’s refinery, critical documents have gone missing and/or are being removed and destroyed, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has reported to Police Commissioner Gary Griffith.
Persad-Bissessar wrote Griffith on Wednesday calling on the police to seek court assistance to preserve the evidence concerning the alleged “fake oil issue and AV Oil and Gas Company Ltd.”
She said she feared “an ongoing attempt to undermine the democratic institutions and processes designed to uphold the rule of law.”
“It has come to my attention that in preparation for the closure of the refinery, electronic documents, critical reports, statistical data sheets, technical timeline data surveys and confidential employee statements have gone missing and/or are being removed and systematically destroyed,” she said in the letter.
“Such actions carry the real risk of compromising the ongoing criminal investigation by various organs of the Police Service. Equally serious is the fact that such actions amount to the commission of further criminal offences, including, but not limited to, the obstruction of an ongoing criminal investigation and perverting the course of justice.”
She added, “This evidence will be crucial to any prosecution that may arise out of your investigations into these matters and failure to do so will allow those who may be in breach of the criminal law to escape.”
Persad-Bissessar gave a detailed background of the allegations against Petrotrin Catshill field lease Operator A&V Oil and Gas Ltd., which were first made public in September of last year.
The allegations, she noted, arose out of a report produced by Petrotrin’s Audit Committee. She said the internal audit’s opinion that the purchase of non-existent crude from Catshill was the main contributing factor to Petrotrin receiving significantly less oil than the volumes recorded by the Exploration and Production department. The report estimated Petrotrin would have overpaid A&V Oil and Gas Ltd. some US$11.5 million
Persad-Bissessar noted that the matter was referred by Petrotrin’s board to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. But she said the DPP doesn’t have the power to investigate criminal conduct to determine any infringement of law, justifying prosecution. She said it was, however, understood the police have started an investigation.
Persad-Bissessar said the matter was important not only because of the quantum of money involved but it’s alleged “a calculated, intentional and deliberate fraudulent scheme to defraud Petrotrin was involved.” She noted the Prime Minister also said the principal of A&V Oil and Gas Ltd. was his friend.
“Such statements hold potential to give the impression that such persons would be afforded preferential treatment from the authorities. The Prime Minister’s action will certainly result in the undermining the already low confidence that the population has in the police service,” she added.