Graft watchdog report under analysis from DSSOPT

Raimundo do Rosário (center)

When questioned by the press on the sidelines of the plenary session of the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosário said that the Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) is currently analyzing the report released by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) regarding the investigation on the Iec Long Firecracker Factory land swap case.
“DSSOPT is already analyzing the process and will propose or take the measures that they will find necessary and convenient,” said Rosário adding that right now it is too early to arrive at conclusions on the analysis within the report released by the graft watchdog on Wednesday.  He also mentioned that no deadline has been set for detailed study of the report by the Public Works and Transport Bureau.
“The report was published only yesterday and after only 24 hours I still don’t have conclusions. There isn’t a deadline [I haven’t set one] but I think in a reasonable time there will be conclusions of that analysis that is being done,” he said, not excluding the possibility of disciplinary procedures being taken by the DSSOPT.
The high-ranked official reaffirmed his position about the case saying “if I proposed to the Chief Executive [CE] that the process would be sent to the CCAC it would be because I thought that there were justifiable reasons for that.” He further remarked in the observation of the law, that the bureau will follow the same procedure for any cases that might arise in the future.
“When I detect any situation like this I will do the same,” he said, adding that “for now the only situation that has been brought to my attention and that I have proposed to the CE during in the last 18 to 19 months was this one. I’m not saying that there aren’t others. I’m just saying when and if any others arise I would do the same and would propose the same to the CE. I don’t have to have any feelings about this, I just need to receive the report, read it and observe the indications stated there,” he concluded.
The president of the AL, Ho Iat Seng, also commented on the results of the report saying “I haven’t made a complete reading yet [of the report], but from what I read in the press I consider that: first – the analysis of CCAC was correct; and second – I must say that I consider that the communication was on the right timing and that many works will follow after this report is released.” He indicated that he agreed with the words of the CE, stating that “in case irregularities are detected, the person at stake must assume their responsibilities.” RM