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Lives of potential eyewitnesses at risk if full report is made public now – PM

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Making public the report of the investigation into the alleged extra-judicial killings by the police force, will not only compromise continued investigations and prejudice potential judicial proceedings, but it may put the lives of potential eyewitnesses at risk, Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has said.

The report, produced by an eight-member team from the Jamaican Constabulary Force, stated that the 12 police killings during a special task force operation called “Operation Restore Confidence” between 2009 and 2011, were fake encounters staged by the police to legistimise their actions, and called for the prosecution of all the officers involved, Dr. Anthony disclosed in his 27-minute address to the nation on Sunday, March 8.

While revealing the main findings of the report, the prime minster refused to make the entire document public. He said after reviewing the contents of the report, the Cabinet of Ministers has decided that it is not in the public’s interest to make the report public at this time.

“Already, there has been some unwarranted and outrageous speculation and commentary on the contents of the report,” Dr. Anthony pointed out.

“Disclosure of the report would compromise continued investigations, place the lives of potential witnesses at risk and prejudice unfairly those who could face prosecution. The report relies on information provided by persons who spoke on condition of anonymity and we must, at all costs, protect the identity of the witnesses who spoke to the investigators.

“Though these witnesses are not identified in the report, the evidence contained therein could give clues of their identity. Further, disclosure would mean that those who may have done wrong will have advanced warning of who said what to whom about what, when, why, and where. It is best, therefore, that disclosure awaits the filing of charges, if any, and the ensuing legal processes.”


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