Compensation for victims of 'politically motivated' probes

Cabinet decides to offer reinstatement, promotions, arrears and financial relief

Those who have been subjected to politically motivated investigations by the three main agencies will be entitled to compensation or relief, the Cabinet has decided.

This is after the Government decided to review all cases completed or yet to be completed by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption ( CIABOC), the Financial Crimes investigation Division (FCID) and the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Police. If it is determined that the probes were politically motivated, suitable compensation or relief will be offered to the victims.

The cases will be reviewed in the next six weeks by a committee to be appointed.

Cabinet approval was granted to the proposal to review the cases on the grounds that it appeared that after the 2015 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, some of the armed forces and police personnel and public officials were politically victimised and some of them had left their services.

The Cabinet will be able to decide on the relief to be provided to victims. This would include reinstatement, granting promotion withheld, payment of arrears and financial compensation.

The Cabinet also decided to request the President to appoint a Special Presidential Commission to look into whether investigating officials had overstepped their powers and worked under the influence of ‘external parties’ and to make suitable recommendations.

The Cabinet also decided to seek the services of the Attorney General's Department to draft new laws which safeguards public officials who act in good faith, but face political victimisation.

However, the proposed laws will not give protection to persons involved in corrupt activities, a senior official said.

The Cabinet noted that the lack of protection for the public officials was an obstacle to the performance of their services.