THE Anti-Corruption Commission is reporting that all the cases brought against public officials who did not file ‘declaration of assets’ on time in 2003 were eventually cleared up after summonses issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

David Grey, secretary/manager of the commission, said that 63 persons were reported to the DPP last year, 14 of whom were summoned to court.

Four of those cases were disposed of in the Half Way Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court when the DPP exercised his powers and withdrew the charges.

The other 10 cases were disposed of in April with the DPP again exercising his powers and withdrawing the charges following the filing of outstanding declarations by the parties.

A breakdown of the 14 cases referred to the DPP showed:

. one person from the Bureau of Standards

. three from the Jamaica Constabulary Force;

. two from the Jamaica Defence Force;

. one from the Management Institute for National Development;

. two from the Ministry of Health;

. one from the National Environmental Planning Agency;

. one from the National Road Operating and Construction Company; and

. three employees of the Western Regional Health Authority.

The commission is also reporting that of the 117 public sector entities requested to submit updates in relation to declarations for last year, 40 have been tardy in furnishing responses to date in respect of declarations due each year by March 31.

However, Grey did not disclose the names of the entities or the absolute figures, saying the information is to be included in the 2004 annual report of the commission, which is being finalised.

Last year, the commission moved to have criminal charges brought against some 3,500 public officials who did not declare their assets up to the deadline.

Grey said then that he had issued warning letters in batches of 100 to the delinquents who subsequently filed.

If convicted, delinquent public servants can face up to $200,000 in fines and/or two years in prison.

The commission requires annual declarations from all state employees earning in excess of $2 million, all police and military personnel, all parish councillors and councillors of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation, office managers, specified property officials, procurement managers and officers, and key employees of government revenue departments including the immigration and passport offices.

They are also required to supply their spouses assets and those of any children living at home.

The commission was established in 2003 to unearth corruption by public officers who abuse their positions of public trust.

The intention is not to snoop into people’s lifestyles, said Gray, but to find evidence of illegal enrichment.

That is, through graft, abuse of office, procuring gifts by inducement, bribery and the fraudulent use or conversion of government assets.

Income earned by legitimate businesses or second jobs is not the subject of the commission’s probe, Grey noted.

A total of 11,818 declarations were received up to March 31 last year.

A chart of the agencies with delinquent declarants shows that as at the end of 2003, the leading agencies were the Jamaica Constabulary, 36 per cent, other agencies, 27 per cent, and the Jamaica Defence Force 26 per cent.

bellanfanted@jamaicaobserver.com