<<Print>>

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has formally written to the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) for additional documentation mentioned in the trial of the UK construction firm, Mabey & Johnson. The request was made through the Attorney-General�s Department to the UK Home Office under the mutual assistance agreement among countries in the investigation of trans-national crimes. The CHRAJ�s action was necessitated by the fact that although the commission has proceedings of the trial of Mabey & Johnson, documentation mentioned in the proceedings and which was tendered in evidence was needed to conclude preliminary investigations. The Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Justice Emile Short, told the Daily Graphic that CHRAJ had made a request to the A-G for the full UK SFO investigation file. He said what the commission received from the SFO referred to a whole bunch of documents which was not attached, hence the request. Mr Justice Short, during the celebration of the UN Anti-Corruption Day on Wednesday, December 9, 20009, highlighted the challenges of investigating corruption in the country and used the Mabey & Johnson investigation to CHRAJ as a case in point. He said the absence of a Freedom of Information Act in the country was a great challenge to the commission in investigating allegations of corruption. Corruption, he added, had also become a global phenomenon that transcended national borders. It could, therefore, not be countered on a national basis alone but required international co-operation in all respects, he said. Mr Justice Short said the documents sought for by CHRAJ were �important documents� needed to �bring closure to our preliminary investigations and then consider launching into a full formal public hearing.� He said CHRAJ was anxious to conclude investigations on the Mabey & Johnson case as soon as the documents requested were received.