FIVE doctors assigned to the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) are now in trouble with the Integrity Commission for their failure to file statutory declarations.

In investigation reports tabled in the Senate on Friday, director of investigation at the Integrity Commission Kevon Stephenson indicated that he has referred all five to the commission’s Director of Corruption Prosecution Keisha Prince-Kameka for consideration, which could see them dragged before the courts.

The five, if found guilty, could face fines not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both a fine and imprisonment.

Among the five is Dr Christopher Wilks, who Stephenson has concluded failed without reasonable cause to file statutory declarations for the periods ending December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017.

Under the Corruption Prevention Act, public officials earning more than $2 million annually are required to submit statutory declarations outlining their assets and liabilities each year.

Stephenson found that Wilks was obliged to file statutory declarations but, despite being informed in 2019 about his obligation and acknowledging receipt of the notice, he failed to do so.

Failure to file statutory declarations is a breach of Section 15(2)(a) of the Corruption Prevention Act but Stephenson has also recommended that Wilks still go ahead and file the outstanding declarations.

It is a similar story for Dr Keith Clarke, however, his outstanding declarations are for the periods ending December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2015.

Similarly the report said Clarke was informed in writing in May 2019 of his obligation to file and acknowledged receiving the notice days later, but investigations revealed that the doctor did not act on the notice and has failed to provide a response or lawful explanation as to why he has not complied.

The third doctor of the list is Monia Spencer who Stephenson said has declarations outstanding for 2016 and 2017.

Spencer’s colleague Dr Trudy-Ann Johnson is also alleged to have failed to file statutory declarations for 2016 and 2017, and failed to take the opportunity to make amends when she was informed by the commission in 2019.

The fifth report was in relation to Dr Yvonne Munroe-Whitemore who the commission said also failed to file statutory declarations for 2016 and 2017.

According to the report, on June 19, 2019 Munroe-Whitemore acknowledged receipt of a notice which gave her 30 days to file the declarations, but did not act on the opportunity given to her.

The Commission’s Director of Corruption Prosecution Keisha Prince-Kameka has subsdequently ruled that all five doctors should be charged for breach of Section 15(2)(a) of the Corruption Prevention Act.