Police seize Cash's laptops from home

Fri, May 2nd 2014, 12:12 AM

Free National Movement (FNM) Chairman Darron Cash said yesterday he had "no concerns" after police seized two laptop computers and a smartphone from his Cable Beach home, reportedly in relation to a probe into the alleged leak of confidential information from Bank of The Bahamas (BOB).
Cash made the "no concerns" comment after The Guardian told him the newspaper understood the seizure was related to the BOB matter.
The Guardian spoke briefly to Cash outside his home minutes after three police officers left after 10 a.m.
A statement later released by his attorney, Carl Bethel, said a police inspector and two sergeants from the Central Detective Unit (CDU) entered Cash's home "pursuant to a purported ex-parte search warrant issued by a magistrate" and made the seizure
"purportedly in pursuance of an investigation into matters related to Bank of The Bahamas".
A few weeks ago, he was outspoken over allegations the bank was used as a political tool. Cash previously called for a select committee of Parliament to investigate the affairs at the bank.
The statement released by Bethel yesterday said the items were "physically grabbed from [Cash's] hands and taken by the police, who refused to deliver or to leave a copy of the 'search warrant' with Mr. Cash".
It added, "This action by the police is asserted by Mr. Cash to have been an unreasonable, unconstitutional and unlawful seizure and search of his personal property, which contains personal, business and general political information, e-mails and communications which relate to his profession as an accountant and generally to his political activities and responsibilities as the national chairman of the Official Opposition, as well as containing personal family communications and information."
Bethel advised that "immediate steps have been taken upon the instructions of Mr. Darron Cash to seek redress for the violation of his constitutional right to privacy by a constitutional motion in the Supreme Court".
The matter involving Bank of The Bahamas grabbed national attention several months ago after The Punch reported a series of allegations regarding loans from the bank.
In a press statement in January, Cash said, "Based on what numerous persons have reported to me and other party officers, I can assure you that members of the general and investing public are very concerned about the state of affairs of that publicly-traded financial institution."
Cash called for the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Assembly to "scrutinize the extent to which public funds, including those of the National Insurance Board, are at risk with BOB".
But Prime Minister Perry Christie, who is also minister of finance, assured the public at the time that "there need be no fear or concern" relating to the bank.
"The bank's capital position and other fundamentals remain strong," Christie said in a statement.
"Moreover, the government is satisfied that all necessary steps have already been taken, and will continue to be taken, to ensure the bank remains in full compliance with all regulatory requirements and prudential banking standards."
Amid the controversy, BOB also shot back.
In January, it said, "Successive governments, to their credit, have systematically avoided any involvement in credit policies or the granting of credit.
"Further, virtually all of the loans involving so-called political persons that have been the subject of recent stories in the media were made in the period 2008-2010 when these persons were not even in government."
The bank later said it was suing The Punch for "a combination of outright lies and numerous falsehoods and inaccuracies".
It also pledged to investigate the source of the "leak" of confidential information from the bank.
Reaction
There was widespread reaction to the seizure of Cash's property yesterday, including on social media sites.
On his Facebook page, FNM Deputy Chairman Dr. Duane Sands said, "This is an example of gestapo like tactics being applied to intimidate."
He added, "All Bahamians should be concerned that he has been singled out. We must now loudly demand a full and thorough public investigation. What applies to the goose applies to the gander.
"Why have none of the other politicians or 'business men' been subjected to such harassment?
"If we do not respond loudly life in The Bahamas will become more repressive and the heavy-handedness will increase."
Sands said it is time for the Progressive Liberal Party to seek another mandate.
"The commissioner of police should act without fear or favor and deal with all infractions of the law," he added.
"This is for us a pivotal time, a defining moment. We must respond loudly with a united rejection of this arbitrary and capricious action."

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