Ian Hayles denies wrongdoing after being referred to police

Former Hanover Western Member of Parliament, the People’s National Party’s Ian Hayles is denying any wrongdoing after the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) referred him to the police for further investigation into fraud and conspiracy allegations.

Specifically, the OCG has asked the police to determine whether Hayles and his wife Charlotte Alexander-Hayles committed forgery in relation to buildings that were constructed in Hanover without the approval of the Hanover Parish Council and whether Hayles breached the Corruption Prevention Act.

READ:Hayles in hot water

The report by the OCG, which has since been subsumed by the Integrity Commission, was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday.

However, the Hayles family – including Ian Hayles’ mother Pauline Gray, who was also mentioned in the report – in a statement through their attorney, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, have professed their innocence in the matter.

“Our clients wish to indicate that neither of them individually nor collectively, participated in any criminal conduct that would warrant any form of investigation into the matters reported by the Integrity Commission,” Champagnie said.

Champagnie said it was “most unfortunate” that the report “having made certain favourable and conclusive findings in respect of our clients, have made the recommendations in the way that they have.”

He also labelled as “perplexing” the specific reference of forgery in respect of a document given that, he said, the document “was neither prepared by nor emanated from any offices associated with our clients.”

The King’s Counsel said his clients “enjoy sterling reputations and cannot afford for there to be any damage thereto based on wild and unfounded accusations.”