KINGSTON, Jamaica — Attorneys representing veteran People’s National Party (PNP) operative KD Knight have written to Police Commissioner Kevin Blake, requesting an investigation into possible breaches of the Cyber Crimes Act and the Representation of The People Act by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and its Campaign Chairman, Dr Christopher Tufton.

The request follows the airing of what Knight claims is an altered recording of him by Tufton during a JLP rally on Sunday, August 10.

READ: KD Knight says recording played at JLP rally ‘a malicious fabrication’

Knight’s legal team says the allegedly manipulated recording was unlawfully attributed to Knight and was orchestrated and presented as his original statements, to bring into disrepute the reputation of our client and question the integrity of The Hon Leader of the Opposition.

“We are of the view that a forensic examination of the recording will confirm the fact that it was manipulated for political gain and in breach of the Cyber Crime Act and Representation of The People Act.”

Tufton has denied that the tape is fake, altered or doctored.

READ: Tufton says tape with KD Knight is 100% genuine and not doctored

The letter to the police, signed by attorney Bert Samuels, said Knight’s legal team believes Tufton is in contravention of the Cyber Crimes Act as:

“Under section 8 1(b) of the Act a person commits an offence if that person accesses any computer and inputs, alters, deletes or suppresses data with the intention that the said data be considered or acted on as if it were the original data. Under section 12 of the Act a person commits an offence if they intentionally incite, attempts, aids or abets the commission of any offence under sections 3 to 10 and should be liable for prosecution. Section 14 directly addresses instances where bodies corporate (which would include the Jamaica Labour Party) failed to exercise due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence and shall be liable.”

The letter continues, “Further, under the Representation of The People Act, section 97 (c), a person who before or during an election affects the return of any candidate or prospective candidate, makes or publishes any false statement of fact in relation to the personal conduct of such candidate or prospective candidate is guilty of an illegal practice shall be liable on summary conviction before a Resident Magistrate to a fine.”

Knight’s legal team is now asking that the matter be referred to the police Communications, Forensics and Cybercrime Division for investigation.