THE Presidential Commission of Inquiry into allegations against Home Affairs Minister Ronald Gajraj has said that it was never the body's intention to furnish Gajraj or his counsel with a copy of each witness' statement.
Rather, it will "furnish statements to the Minister "solely on the basis of necessity in the interest of fairness where that statement is favourable to the Minister in that it tends to exculpate him or show him free from wrongdoing," the Commission said.
The Commission clarified the issue in an advertisement scheduled for publication today.
The full text of the Commission's statement signed by Secretary G. Persaud, reads:
"Due to queries from members of the public, members of the above Commission of Inquiry hereby state for the purpose of clarification that it is not, and never was, their intention to furnish a copy of each and every witness' statement to the Minister of Home Affairs or his counsel.
A copy of a witness' statement will be furnished to the Minister solely on the basis of necessity in the interest of fairness where that statement is favourable to the Minister in that it tends to exculpate him or show him free from wrongdoing.
On the other hand, a witness' statement, which tends to implicate the Minister in wrongdoing, will not be furnished to him. In other words, only statements, which tend to exculpate the Minister or show him free from wrongdoing, will be furnished to him.
The members of the Commission will determine in their own deliberate judgment whether the necessity to furnish the statement to the Minister in the interest of fairness has arisen."