Wheatley's court challenge against IC prosecution delayed to November 12
The first hearing of Cabinet Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley's judicial review against the Integrity Commission has been rescheduled for November 12 at the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court postpones opening of Wheatley's judicial review challenge
The first hearing of Cabinet Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley's legal challenge against the Integrity Commission (IC) has been pushed back to November 12 at the Supreme Court, jamaica-gleaner.com reports. The matter, originally set for Tuesday, was adjourned to allow the attorney general to be formally served with the claim.
Wheatley was granted leave in July for a judicial review of the IC's decision to recommend criminal charges against him for alleged illicit enrichment and other corruption-related offences. Pending the outcome of that review, Justice David Batts has barred the commission from filing any charges.
Justice Batts granted Wheatley permission to challenge the actions of Director of Investigations Kevon Stephenson, Acting Director of Corruption Prosecution Kelly-Ann Murdock, and the Integrity Commission itself. His order states that Murdock and the IC — or their successors — are "restrained, whether by themselves, their servants or agents or otherwise howsoever, from laying any criminal charge, instituting or continuing any prosecution" against Wheatley until the judicial review is heard and determined.
The IC tabled a report in Parliament in June recommending four criminal charges against Wheatley following a formal investigation. The commission's prosecutor recommended charging him with illicit enrichment after investigators concluded that assets allegedly under his control exceeded his lawful earnings by more than $164 million.
Murdock further recommended two counts of knowingly making false statements in statutory declarations — covering the periods 2013 to 2017 and 2018 to 2022 — as well as one count of failing to provide information requested by the commission's director of information and complaints. The investigation report also recommended that concerns about the tax compliance of a medical business formerly owned by Wheatley be referred to the commissioner general of Tax Administration Jamaica.
Wheatley serves as Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for science, technology, and special projects. He is the member of parliament for St Catherine South Central. He previously held the science, technology, and mining portfolio before stepping down from Cabinet in 2018 amid the Petrojam controversy.
Wheatley is represented by Ransford Braham, KC; Abe Dabdoub; and Neco Pagon. The Integrity Commission is represented by King's Counsel Kevin Powell.
Source: Google News JM — Crime