Bridger says allegations were vindictive
Martin Bridger
(CNS): Martin Bridger, the senior investigation officer of Operation Tempura, claims that allegations made against him amid the fallout of the discredited police corruption probe were vindictive. Yesterday’s announcement that the case against him had been closed and that there would be no charges may not have put a lid on the controversial inquiry, as Bridger is now considering how to expose all the facts of the case. He told CNS that while he had faced the threat of being charged for almost five years, his own allegations about the investigation were never taken seriously by former police commissioner David Baines, who decided in a matter of months that the evidence Bridger has supporting his claims was insufficient.
Bridger, a former Scotland Yard cop, explained that after he made allegations about possible misconduct of UK officials, in particular regarding accusations of dishonesty, the counter-allegations were made against him.
“The investigation against me by the RCIPS has taken almost five years to complete,” Bridger said in an email response to CNS. “I was not provided with ‘details’ of the investigation. It was not made clear to me who my accusers were. I was not interviewed in respect of the allegations made. Not one piece of evidence was shared with me. In all of the circumstances known to me I am satisfied the allegations against me had no substance and were borne out of vindictiveness.”
Bridger said that he would now consider how to move matters forward to expose all the facts relating to Operation Tempura and the later Operation Cealt, which Bridger has repeatedly said have not been properly revealed.
He explained that his accusations were that there was evidence of criminal conduct by some senior officials during the time the Tempura investigation was live. He said those allegations were supported by witness statements from former commissioner Stuart Kernohan and Chief Superintendent John Jones. The Metropolitan Police had also considered that an investigation was warranted.
But although the probe against Bridger rolled on for well over four years, he was never asked about his own claims.
“I was not given the opportunity to provide a witness statement nor were other witnesses who were available to support the allegation, albeit RCIPS were told of their availability,” he said. “Within a few months David Baines concluded the investigation, stating there was insufficient evidence. On the evidence I have seen there was no desire by RCIPS to independently and dispassionately investigate the allegations.”
Bridger added that he believed Baines’ failure to examine all of the available evidence before he departed the Cayman Islands was a stain on the credibility of the RCIPS and other public bodies.
After the announcement yesterday about the end of the RCIPS case against Bridger, CNS asked the governor’s office for the unredacted Aina Report, which could answer some of the outstanding questions about the role of senior UK representatives caught up in the discredited probe. However, we have not yet had a response.
sue them or get on with life man!?
If he had anything really juicy he would have passed it to wikileaks a long time ago.
Not with the Russians now in control of wikileaks
Anonymous person asking for my contact details please speak to Wendy Ledger who will give you my contact details. Martin Bridger
Martin go away. You ripped us off.
how do i get in contact with Mr. Bridger! 🙂 not a joke..
Check out – http://uk-bgs.com/about-us/key-team/
6:33 All you have to do is run through some of the old FOI responses.
It’s mmb.associateconsultants@googlemail.com – and that is a matter of public record.
Bridgie, how does it feel to be a victim of one of the principal tools of the colonizer? Not too nice, eh? This is what your former employers have been dealing in for centuries.
There is open vindictiveness in elements of the civil service and elected officials. Governor?
I smell a big settlement coming, and more Taxpayers money down the drain . Come on people aren’t you upset with these Politicians destroying your Taxpayers money yet ?
Just think about all the settlements and all the government’s employees that are put on full pay leave for min 3 years . All that money could have built 2 of those Court Houses for 177 million dollars. but all we have is the old Court House .
Tell us 11.42 am what local politician has anything to do with this matter? If you want to throw a stone, try throwing about 5000 miles! LOL.
Anonymous 2:01pm , you will learn which Politicians had anything to do with this matter very soon if a big enough settlement isn’t made . But it is real funny that I can be 5,00 miles away and know more about the politics that is going on in the Island.
Law suit a coming…or a good book. Or both.