Sun | Nov 10, 2024

Dwayne Vaz pleads guilty for failing to comply with IC rules

Published:Tuesday | April 30, 2024 | 12:13 PM
The Integrity Commission had said the former MP was legally obligated to file statutory declarations for 2019 but failed to do so. - File photo

Former People's National Party Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central, Dwayne Vaz, pleaded guilty to breaching the Integrity Commission (IC) Act in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday morning.

He's to return to court on June 6 when he will be sentenced.

The guilty plea came just days after Vaz insisted he had adhered to the requirements of the IC Act and was "prepared to present all necessary information to the court to demonstrate my compliance." 

The Integrity Commission had said the former MP was legally obligated to file statutory declarations for 2019 but failed to do so.

It said Vaz was requested to provide further information by the IC and was aware of the requests.

Vaz's failure to provide the requested information contravened section 43(1)(b) of the Integrity Commission Act.

The director of investigation at the IC said that the former PNP lawmaker was given an opportunity to discharge liability by paying the fixed penalty and submitting the requested information.

However, he said that Vaz only complied with the latter and therefore failed to discharge his liability consistent with Section 43(3) of the Integrity Commission Act.

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