The Integrity Commission has recommended that Member of Parliament for St Catherine South Central Dr Andrew Wheatley be charged with illicit enrichment after investigators concluded that he possessed approximately $164 million in assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the discrepancy.

The recommendation is contained in an investigation report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, which examined Wheatley’s statutory declarations between 2010 and 2022 and his financial affairs over a 10-year period.

According to the report, investigators found that Wheatley acquired or owned assets between 2013 and 2022 that could not be reconciled with his known lawful sources of income. The report concluded that the unexplained disparity amounted to approximately $164 million.

“The DI concludes that Dr Wheatley acquired/owns assets disproportionate to his lawful earnings relevant period (2013 to 2022) in the amount of approximately one hundred and sixty-four million dollars ($164,000,000), and when given the opportunity to provide an explanation as to how he came by said assets, he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation,” the report stated.

The investigation also found that Wheatley failed to fully comply with requests for information from the Integrity Commission and omitted assets and liabilities from statutory declarations filed with the commission. Investigators concluded that some of those omissions related to declarations submitted in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2021.

Among other findings, the report said Wheatley failed to disclose at least five loans, an investment in a company in which he was both a director and shareholder, and full particulars relating to a number of properties.

Investigators also examined approximately $595 million in deposits made to four personal bank accounts held by Wheatley and found that roughly $168 million remained unexplained after accounting for deposits that were verified or satisfactorily explained.

The report further raised concerns about tax compliance, noting that Wheatley filed nil tax returns for 2011 and 2012 in relation to Western Medical despite evidence that the business was operating during that period and, according to his own evidence, earned up to approximately $26 million. Investigators also flagged concerns regarding his personal income tax filings.

Based on its findings, the Integrity Commission’s Director of Investigation recommended that the matter be referred to the Director of Corruption Prosecution for consideration of charges relating to illicit enrichment, false declarations and failure to provide information.

Wheatley is currently the minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for science, technology and special projects.