A critical part of Opposition Leader Francis Fonseca's success in the Mandamus case before the Chief Justice was memo between DPP Vidal and the Head of the National Criminal Investigations Branch. In that memo, ASP Julio Valdez was quoted as saying that he got instructions to shut down the initial Penner investigation.
Fonseca interpreted that as clear political interference into the police matter, and the Court agreed with him when the Commissioner was compelled to direct another investigation into Penner's involvement.
Today, the media caught up with George Lovell, the CEO in the Ministry of National Security and asked him if inquiries were made into where those instructions to ASP Valdez came from. He suggested to reporters that Valdez misunderstood:
Ret. Col. George Lovell - CEO, Ministry of National Security
"There was a letter that was sent back to the DPP, where ASP Valdez clarified what precisely happened. I don't know who made it available to the press with the first correspondence, and I would like to ask whosoever did that to take that second correspondence that ASP Valdez had sent to the DPP, and for them to have the press informed and enlightened on it. I will not be that person to say that to you, but I know that it was clarified."
Mike Rudon - Channel 5
"So, you wouldn't be able to offer any information?"
Ret. Col. George Lovell
"Nothing beyond that there was a clarification that Mr. Valdez had submitted to the DPP, and if anybody who had given that to the press, the initial report, have that information, I would suggest that they too gave that information to the press in a like manner, to clear up the position on that particular incident."
Mike Rudon
"So, to your knowledge, at this point can you say - did he clarify that there were in fact no instructions?"
Ret. Col. George Lovell
"There was no instruction, yes. He misunderstood."
7News will be in Belmopan tomorrow for the beginning of the Penner private prosecution, and we'll bring you coverage of it in tomorrow's newscast.
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