IC recommends illicit enrichment and other charges against Andrew Wheatley

 

Cabinet Minister Dr. Andrew Wheatley is to be charged with four offences, including illicit enrichment, after a probe found assets allegedly disproportionate to his lawful earnings by more than $164 million, the Integrity Commission's corruption prosecutor has ruled. 

 

The disclosure came after an Integrity Commission investigative report and indicative ruling were tabled in the House of Representatives Wednesday afternoon. 

 

Illicit enrichment primarily refers to public officials owning assets disproportionate to their lawful earnings, who fail to provide a satisfactory explanation when investigated by the Integrity Commission. 

 

Documents tabled in Parliament on Wednesday show the Commission's Director of Corruption Prosecution also recommended charges of knowingly making false statements in statutory declarations, one count covering 2013-2017 and another covering 2018-2022, along with a charge for failing to provide information requested by the Commission's Director of Information and Complaints. 

 

The Director of Investigation concluded that Dr. Wheatley failed to disclose at least five loans, an investment in a real estate company in which he was a Director and shareholder, and details relating to multiple properties. 

 

The investigation report separately flags tax compliance concerns tied to a medical business Dr. Wheatley once owned, and recommends that findings be referred to the Tax Administration of Jamaica's Commissioner General. 

 

Director of Investigation Kevon Stephenson probed the matter and referred his report to the Director of Corruption Prosecution, who recommended the charges. 

 

Dr. Wheatley is a senior politician from the governing Jamaica Labour Party, who serves as Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects. He is the Member of Parliament for St. Catherine South Central. 

 

Dr. Wheatley, a scientist, previously served as Minister of Science, Technology and Mining. He resigned from his Cabinet position in July 2018 amid controversies and investigations concerning the operations of state-owned oil refinery, Petrojam. 

 

Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness reappointed Dr. Wheatley to the Cabinet following the September 2025 general election.

 

In response to the Integrity Commission's investigative report and indicative ruling, Dr. Wheatley rejected as "false, inaccurate and grossly misleading" the IC's characterisation of there being assets disproportionate to his earnings.

Dr. Wheatley said he has instructed his legal team to mount a defence in response to the "false allegations".

"The recommendation for a charge of illicit enrichment, along with the other charges, will be vigorously contested in the Court-of-law. I am in a position to provide supporting evidence that I have lawfully acquired every dollar and every asset that I own. I intend to defend my reputation via the Court and am confident of a positive outcome," he said.