3% of the Integrity Commission investigation reports related to FID, TAJ – Stephenson

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Only about three percent of cases investigated by the Integrity Commission (IC) are referred to external bodies such as the Financial Investigations Division (FID) and Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) for further action.

This is what the IC’s director of investigations, Kevon Stephenson, says.

He made the announcement on Tuesday during an appearance before Parliament’s Integrity Commission Oversight Committee (ICOC). He answered questions from committee member, MP for St Andrew South Eastern, Julian Robinson.

Stephenson said that over a five-year period, just over 3 percent of investigative reports were forwarded to other agencies.

He explained that when making referrals, “we have to keep the Commission’s remit in mind”. He said that although there are other bodies with similar or complementary powers, “we must be careful not to lose the functions we are supposed to perform, especially considering the independence of the commission in dealing with matters that have to do with the public.” “officials and whether other units enjoy the same independence”.

Stephenson explained that investigative reports usually involve requests for information from other relevant authorities such as TAJ and FID.

“There are also opportunities for joint investigations,” he said, revealing that the IC is currently involved in some of these investigations.

The issue of transfers came to the fore in September when the IC, in its nearly 200-page investigative report into Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s financial affairs, recommended that the report be sent to the FID and TAJ to have those bodies examine the business dealings of the Prime Minister Prime Minister.