Everyone conflicted on Tempura, says top cop
(CNS): Police Commissioner David Baines agrees with the governor’s decision that he should be the one to handle any complaint by the former senior investigating officer in Operation Tempura, Martin Bridger. Speaking on Tuesday, Baines accepted that he and the RCIPS are conflicted as a result of other court actions relating to the controversial police corruption probe and Bridger, but told CNS, “Everyone is conflicted in this." Meanwhile, Bridger also issued a statement in response to Duncan Taylor’s letter to Scotland Yard and his decision to hand the issue over to Baines. The former Tempura boss said that the UK cops should never have involved Taylor, who does not have the power to initiate a criminal investigation.
However, Bridger also noted that he had concerns over Baines’ conflict in the case and how he could fairly investigate the allegations of crime being made by Bridger given the circumstances.
Baines explained, however, that the RCIPS holds all of the relevant documents and evidence relating to the entire internal police probe from start to finish and, as a result, the local police service “would have to be involved”, even if it worked with another external police service to investigate the matter.
“The RCIPS is the right starting point,” Baines stated. “One way or another, the jurisdiction sits with me.” He added that he was now waiting to hear from Bridger out abwhether he intended to pursue the complaint or not.
Noting that it was too early for him to comment much more on the issue, Baines nevertheless said that once he had Bridger's formal complaint, he would make a decision on how best to proceed.
It is not clear, however, if Bridger, who is currently in London, will be pursuing the complaint with Baines. In a statement Tuesday evening, the former Scotland Yard cop said the governor’s conclusion was right that it was not within his remit to commence an investigation.
“I was disappointed that that the Metropolitan Police involved the governor and surprised that it has taken the governor so long to come to this obvious conclusion,” Bridger said, adding that he would think carefully about taking his allegations of a crime regarding officials here to Baines because of the conflicts.
“I remain committed to doing whatever I can to ensure that the truth about Operation Tempura and what happened as a result of it is made public,” Bridger stated. “My efforts have been hindered by the various court actions taken against me by the attorney general and the Commissioner of Police, David Baines, the reason being to prevent me from using certain documents I hold which would assist in my defence of the Kernohan action.
"If and when all the issues are fully available and understood, the people of the Cayman Islands will then be able to make judgements on the actual ‘facts’. If at that stage the judgement of the people of the Cayman Islands is that we failed you, then of course I would respect that viewpoint,” the former Operation Tempura lead investigator stated.
“In fairness to those who have been named in the allegation of crime, I do not intend to say anymore on the matter at this stage,” he added.
Related article on CNS:
Category: Crime
Bridger, shut up already. Unless you are here on CNS telling us the whole truth about what happened with you bunch and Tempura, then SHUT UP. We are all sick and tired of you and everything connected with Tempura. You have wasted enough of our money, we are not amused. WE do not give a damn about you clearing all the s*it off yourself that was put there by you and Tempura. Why should we pay another dollar to clear up a mess that you created yourself. GET OFF CNS OR TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH, damn the reprocussions to yourself or others involved. Until then shut the F up.
Of course everyone is conflicted…they were all in it together!!. I say send the bloody bill for $15M to the UK and then we will find who really is conflicted or not.
I think, Mr Bridger, the people of the Cayman Islands have already made up their minds that this whole exercise was an expensive waste of their money. You took $747 a day from us and gave back nothing. It's quite clear from your statement that you expected this to be investigated by your old friends at the Met but as, you should be well aware, they don't have jurisdiction over here. Why don't you just settle Stuart Kernohan's claim, shut up and go away.
Unless a completely independent force does this, we will never get to the bottom of it.
The cover-up continues!
Turtlegate thats what it is!! LOL