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Police compel PNM to explain Balisier House funding
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago /Crime & Justice

Police compel PNM to explain Balisier House funding

From Trinidad Express · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Trinidad and Tobago Police have obtained a court order to compel the ruling People's National Movement (PNM) to explain the funding for its headquarters.
  • The investigation into the construction of Balisier House is being led by acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramdath Phillip.
  • Police suspect the PNM's wealth may exceed lawfully obtained assets, prompting the application for an Unexplained Wealth Order.

Trinidad and Tobago's High Court has granted the Police Service an order to compel the ruling People's National Movement (PNM) to explain how it funded the multimillion-dollar construction of its headquarters, Balisier House.

The police have been investigating the building's finances, with Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro authorizing acting Assistant Commissioner Ramdath Phillip to seek a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order. This legal mechanism allows authorities, with court approval, to demand explanations for assets when there are reasonable grounds to suspect they originated from unlawful conduct.

The application, filed in the High Court, names the PNM's trustees as the first respondent and the party itself as the second. Police suspect the respondents' total wealth exceeds $500,000 and may surpass their lawfully obtained assets, potentially stemming from a "specified offence."

The PNM and its trustees are now required to file declarations and answer questions regarding their assets and wealth. The investigation highlights a new legal tool being employed in Trinidad and Tobago to scrutinize the financial origins of political entities.

NEW BUILDING

— Trinidad ExpressDescribing the PNM's headquarters, Balisier House.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Trinidad Express in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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