Former SIA boss in hot water over statutory declarations

FORMER CEO of Sugar Industry Authority (SIA) George Callaghan has been cited for making false statements in his statutory declaration filings for 2018 to 2020, by failing to disclose several bank accounts he held during the period.

In a December 2023 Integrity Commission (IC) investigation report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, it was revealed that Callaghan only declared one bank account in his filings, when in fact he was in possession of four other accounts.

The IC’s director of investigation, Kevon Stephenson said he is in possession of evidential material which confirms that the undisclosed accounts were at the material time owned by Callaghan.

“The supporting documents include account opening information with the signatures of Mr Callaghan and his spouse Rose Callaghan. Also included were pictorial identification cards, the Tax Registration Number (TRN) known to be associated with Callaghan and his spouse, along with bank statements germane to the undisclosed bank accounts,” he said.

The IC’s investigation also revealed that the undeclared accounts were used frequently during the declaration period in question.

It also questioned the proximity of the letter from the commission, dated June 27, 2022, to Callaghan, requesting further particulars of bank accounts to the closure of the imputed bank accounts.

The bank accounts in question were closed between October 29, 2021 and August 18, 2022.

Callaghan, the IC said, made no attempt to provide the commission with any reasonable cause in respect to the omissions identified when given the opportunity to do so.

The report revealed that when asked a total of 14 questions about the bank accounts during an interview conducted on July 25, 2023, Callaghan responded “no comment” to all queries.

In relation to Callaghan’s omission in respect of the referenced bank accounts from his 2018 to 2020 statutory declarations, the director of investigation concluded that Callaghan was the legal owner thereof and, having omitted to include same, his statutory declarations were inaccurate and incomplete.

The IC concluded that that there is sufficient basis to infer that the referenced omissions amounted to the offence of knowingly making a false statement to the commission.

Under Section 43 (2)(a) of the Integrity Commission Act (ICA) it is an offence to knowingly make a false statement in a statutory declaration. In addition, it is a requirement under the ICA that declarants disclose to the commission particulars of all assets, liabilities, gifts and income in respect of themselves, their spouses and children. More particularly, declarants are required to disclose bank accounts owned or held over the reporting period.