Trinidad to take no criminal action against Warner over FIFA bribery scandal

By Duncan Mackay

May 29 – Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner will not face any criminal action in his native Trinidad and Tobago for his involvement in an alleged bribery scandal that forced him to resign from the world governing body last year, it has been announced.

Trinidad’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Roger Gaspard, has ordered the termination of investigations into an alleged bribery scandal involving Warner (pictured top) that he set up the infamous hotel meeting in Port-of-Spain where fellow FIFA vice-president Mohamed Bin Hammam (pictured below, with Sepp Blatter) allegedly offered $40,000 (£25,500/€32,000) in cash to Caribbean delegates to vote for him against Sepp Blatter in the FIFA Presidential election.

Warner stepped down from FIFA rather than face an official investigation but retained his position in Trinidad and Tobago’s Government as Deputy Prime Minister and Works Minister.

But Keith Rowley, the Leader of Trinidad and Tobago’s opposition, requested the matter be investigated by the police.

The Police Services Commission (PSC) have now written to Rowley to tell him that they have dropped the investigation and no action will be taken against Warner.

“On the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions, no further [action] can be taken in this matter,” the letter sent to Rowley said.

Warner claimed he had known for several weeks he had been cleared.

“There are so many things that are more important in the country,” he told the Trinidad Express.

“There is so much work to be done that I can’t worry about foolishness.

“I said from day one that there is nothing in the matter and I maintain that.

“But there are forces out there that are trying to recreate something from time immemorial and there is nothing that they can recreate.”

Rowley (pictured below) cast doubt over how seriously the PSC had investigated the matter.

“The DPP has to rely on the police to conduct an investigation into any matter,” he told the Trinidad Express.

“The DPP has no investigative power and it is only what the police put before the DPP that he can act on.

“And clearly what was put before the DPP has caused the matter to end in this way.”

Warner has also denied that a centre of excellence and hotel in Trinidad built with almost $20 million (£13 million/€16 million) of FIFA money was owned by him.

Lawyers working on behalf of CONCACAF, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, said the centre was owned by two companies belonging to Warner’s family, and that he had also arranged for a mortgage to be taken out on the centre.

“I don’t own it, so what is all the fuss about?” Warner said.

“For over one year Blatter and his minions are trying their utmost to destroy me and I would not in any way be remotely perturbed by the foolishness taking place in FIFA.

“Blatter believes that he is a god and no one should oppose him at anytime and once you oppose him you pay the ultimate price.

“I will be the exception and I wish to advise him and his cohorts that in no way he can tarnish my image.”

The Trinidad website wired868.com has published documents, however, linking Warner to the centre, including for an $11 million (£7 million/€9 million) mortgage taken out in 2007 by two companies, Renraw and CCAM which are both owned by the Warner family – Renraw is “Warner” spelled backwards.

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1732704252labto1732704252ofdlr1732704252owedi1732704252sni@y1732704252akcam1732704252.nacn1732704252ud1732704252