Opposition considering legal challenge against Chung's FID appointment

 

The parliamentary opposition has indicated that it could file a legal challenge to the controversial appointment of Dennis Chung as the new Chief Technical Director of the Financial Investigations Division (FID).

 

Mr. Chung's surprise appointment, which was announced Wednesday, comes into effect on Monday, June 2.

 

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, People's National Party president and Opposition Leader Mark Golding argued that Mr. Chung is unfit for the post and his appointment should be immediately rescinded by the government. 

 

Mr. Golding said the opposition is against the appointment because Mr. Chung has made public comments defending Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, who is under investigation by the FID for alleged illicit enrichment.

 

"He is somebody who has already publicly stated positions, in relation to the matters that the FID ought to be investigating, which are strongly in favour of the Prime Minister and which seek to undermine or belittle the impact and importance of the findings that the Integrity Commission has made on the matters that they investigated as set out in the report they sent to Parliament. 

 

"He has commented on the 28 bank accounts operated by the Prime Minister and his companies, on the volume of funds that have flowed through those accounts over the period of their investigation in excess of $470 million. On each of these matters, he publicly sought to take a position that's led to the impression that there was nothing amiss, there was nothing, there's no case to answer, everything is above board," he pointed out. 

 

Mr. Golding was also highly critical of the Public Service Commission for accepting the recommendation to appoint Mr. Chung to the post. 

 

The Opposition Leader warned that the party will stage protest action against the appointment. 

 

"In terms of a legal angle, that's something that we're considering. We haven't had time yet to definitively come to a position on that, but certainly it's something we're exploring. And in terms of actions underground, you will see in due course what we have in mind if the government decides to pursue this and continue on this path, which is essentially contaminating the Financial Investigations Division, which is the institution in Jamaica that is internationally the liaison when it comes to anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing and fighting financial crimes generally," he said, as he urged the government or Mr. Chung himself to "do the right thing". 

 

The PNP has issued a 72-hour ultimatum on the government to rescind the appointment.