Former deputy police chief Lenny Harper, pictured on his retirement
FORMER deputy police chief Lenny Harper and a tight-knit group of his officers lived a celebrity lifestyle dining at top restaurants and travelling first class at taxpayers’ expense during the Haut de la Garenne inquiry, independent inquiries have revealed.
Not only did they repeatedly break clear expenses rules, but they tried to hide their excessive spending by splitting bills between several States credit cards.
Some of the most expensive hospitality was lavished on very senior UK policemen from the Association of Chief Police Officers who came to Jersey to oversee Mr Harper’s work and a News of the World journalist.
• Find out how much was paid for the wining and dining and other expenses during the inquiry in today’s Jersey Evening Post.
Article posted on 15th July, 2010 - 3.00pm
75 Article Comments
The Bailiff should insist the Lennie Harper return to Jersey to answer a series of questions.why can’t the states issue a warrent against him?
He should never have been the person to field questions from the media etc, it should have been the senior officer, Graham Power, not only that, but Harper appeared in numberous photos dressed in civvies clothes, it should have been full uniform. it does look to be the case that Harper was in charge of Power.
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And this is the man that Stuart Syvret said was the best.
What a joke the whole lot of them are now.
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Lenny Harper should be ashamed of himself, has the cheek to call himself a professional police officer! Ha!
The other officers if they are still employed should be made to pay some of the money back.
So who in the Police force can we trust or the states of Jersey for that matter?
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SUPRISED?
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How many more examples of complete incompetence from the police (and states) do we need before something is done?
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Reading the paper and seeing the bills it is quite clear this was theft on huge scale, not bad management or errors but outright theft!
We should charge them and try them for theft.
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I am glad to see something is finally being done about the credit card abuse that goes on, I presume the other civil servants that abuse their privalage of having a states credit card will also be investigated. Hopefully our future deficit might be lessened by this investigation. Thats unless it only applies to one person.
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This whole haute de la garenne thing is just a complete mess created by Lenny Harper. He has stretched out the media interest, destroyed what little tourism we have left and put the victims of this place through hell and back. Yes i agree to comment 1 Lenny should be dragged back here and made to pay for the mess he created. someone at that level should be able to handle the media and a case of this nature if not then they should not have been put in that position. I think that all the ministers should be held partially accountable also as they were too gutless to standup and say no to a blank cheque being written. There should always be checks and balances in any case and never a throw money at it attitude.
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And why has this news broken now? Because the states especially the treasury do not want any more bad press about the tax hikes that are coming in.
Since Powers been acquitted its now personal between Walker and Le Sueur vs Harper and Power.
Hand bags at dawn…
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Agree totally with No.3 – Any serving officers should repay their excess expenses.
Thouse in the private sector are well aware of what they are entitled to claim for in respect of legitimate expenses.
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And the States members entertain visiting dignitaries at Pizza Hut…..
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What a load of rubbish spouted by the JEP- you should be ashamed of yourselves…. and perhaps you should analyse the expenses of ex chief minster Frank Walker and other states members if you are trying to prove a point.
Typical- having a go at Harper and Power because they didnt toe the party line when they are not on the Island to defend themselves.
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This island is run like teddy bears tea party !
We will be asked to contribute more income tax for what, more to be wasted?
Who in the states is responsible for checking expenses? Should this not have been spotted when it was happening? Even if it was split amongst different cards, surely the totals being spent would of caused suspicion? Obviously not !
It will be the same old story, no accountablity !
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A damming acticle and quite right to. After all we would’nt want our states members wasting money on a get to know you jolly at the L’Horzion now would we !!!
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Unless Mr Harper is allowed a right to reply, then how can we judge. I, for one, have been pulled up on expenses (albeit I had a genuine reason), and I’m sure that many professionals in the island have had their expenses questioned from time to time by scrupulous finance directors, which beggars the question, where is Steven Austin-Vautier in all this?
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Ok, hopefully now the Jersey Public will wake up to the fact of the profligate waste and lack of control on spending.
This is our money and our children’s future being poured down the drain.
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amazing how easily people can judge a situation before first hearing BOTH sides of a story. I sincerely hope that none of the respondents above (befor 4:24) are ever allowed onto a jury.
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Two out of control senior policemen with sinister motives to bring down Jersey’s government. Politicians elected on the false premise of their allegations.A secret file on all members of the States.The cost of this and the damage to Jersey’s reputation is immeasurable.
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Huge sums were paid in overtime to officers throughout the force during the investigation, often for mundane things like standing outside HdeG.
It is too easy to blame Power and Harper alone, what happened to the other senior officers and the supposed oversight exerted by Home Affairs and the Minister at the time?
What action has the current Home Affairs Minister taken to stop this happening again?
I suspect the answer to that is none, we are still no closer to a police authority than we were a decade ago.
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I agree with Tom H, they should be charged for this. If this kind of carry on went on at any other firm heads would roll. Harper and Power have behaved like they are above the law and have abused public money and they should be held accountable for it. I am also furious that they will still be able to draw a pension. That should be stopped.
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Paul No. 2
- Stuart who?
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Yes I would like to hear Lenny Harper’s reply. My first question is what the hell was a News of the World Reporter doing at a table with Jersey Police Officers whilst eating at the expense of my taxes?
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I think Jersey has a “soft spot” for the Irish.
Look how much they have given to Dandara not to mention Jersey milk which is also run by the Irish
I wonder what Jerseys getting out of all this???
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The majority – if not all – of former colleagues from the States of Jersey Police, that I have spoken to, have said they will be glad to see the back of Messrs Power and Harper.
Many a good officer resigned, or retired early during the tenure of these guys.
If both of these men feel they have evidence to bring a civil action for libel / defamation, let them do so. That will enable them to give their side of the story of the maga faux pas that occurred on their watch.
I will be surprised if they have the temerity to do so, in view of the evidence amassed in a highly professional investigation by the Chief Constable of Wiltshire.
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Lenny Harper repeatedly told officers that “all States of Jersey Police were corrupt” until he decided different.
Er, “kettle”, “pot”, “black” springs to mind…
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“17: amazing how easily people can judge a situation before first hearing BOTH sides of a story.”
Yes, fancy the NOTW running a sensationalist story after being wined and dined by laughing Lenny. They should have spoken to a police officer who was capable of running a major investigation instead.
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I think he should be ordered to pay it all back himself like the MP’s in the UK or face charges for fraud.
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this is all a smoke screen for what really went on over here it is just a big cover up the states are still putting people in posh over priced hotels ie ouzof mate who is trying to save us money has anybody been sacked for the 10 million pounds they wasted on the euro cock up with the incenerator the list is so long
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As Lenny Harper is a celebrity now does that mean he be appearing on Big Brother?
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To all those who say we are only hearing one side of the story.
Harper and Power were interviewed and submitted their side of the story to Wiltshire police who then issued the report. This is an independent report from the UK police. This has looked at all the evidence and interviewed those involved.
So to keep backing the to police officers who stole from the taxpayer and laughed about the victims in emails is nuts.
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Can someone show me were the Wiltshire Police made the comment about Lenny Harper and the other officers or is it just the JEP g that reporter making the statement?
Let have a full and open investigation into the expense claims of all states departments over the past 3 years and I’m sure it would make the Police ones look like small change.
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I think he should be ordered to pay it all back himself like the MP’s in the UK or face charges for fraud.
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31, ADRIAN.
Agree with every word.
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“Let have a full and open investigation into the expense claims of all states departments over the past 3 years and I’m sure it would make the Police ones look like small change.”
Total rubbish my old absent friend.
The job of any States department is not to be better or worse than another States department but to follow the rules that are set down.
Policemen should know this: it is no defence to speeding to say “some other people were going even faster but you didn’t catch them”. No, you follow the rules or you’re bang to rights.
Please recognise that you, along with the likes of Truthseeker are part of a cult led by Syvret, Power and Harper and that you need help.
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30 Tom H ..and who do you think coughed up for that report..and are they likely to give a negative report back to those who commisioned and paid for it…the words independent and Police used in the same context are incongruous..I know we would all like to believ in nice squeeky clean authorities we could look up to but I am afraid them days are gone along with Dixon of Dock Green….and Johny Morris…today it’s not do the right thing…it is do what you can get away with.
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I want my hard earned money which I paid in tax returned. How can the two faced individuals be put in charge of money laundering, amongst other things – then rob the tax payer blind by their expense claims. nothing short of theft. Prison would not be out of the question for fraud on this level.
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Anyone supporting Lenny is clearly ignorant, or also have their snouts in the trough. For anyone who thinks there is an Establishment because Syvret and his ilk say so, this goes to the core of it all. There isn’t any ‘Establishment’ there is just those who thankfully have reduced support like Syvret, and thankfully finally got rid of Power and Harper. Bring back Frank Walker Now!
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Wait till you see the expenses from the Wiltshire Investigating team
18 months
£126,300,56p between the UK and Jersey
All signed off by Steve Austin Vautier & David Warcup
And it gets worse
rs
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I should add thats just the travel
rs
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#34 Donald Pond
As I stated earlier – anyone who is used to claiming expenses (in the private sector) will from time to time have been questioned by their financial director on items claimed before sign off – don’t you agree?
And if this is so, why wasn’t Steven Austin- Vautier questioning Mr Harper within days of him submitting expense claim forms – or perhaps he did, and Mr Harper gave him a good explanation. Unfortunately, until Messrs Harper and Power are given a right to reply, we will never know.
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Isn’t this Jersey all over. Rob from the poor and give to the rich. There are so many more things that are going on right now that so many people don’t know about. This is Jersey and this is where money does the talking.
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I think we are all due a hefty tax rebate this year because i would like to report a crime.
I,ve had my money stolen from the goverment at least 75,000 through my working life. I would be most gratefull if it was returned by 31st December before a 10 per cent surcharge will be added if not returned by this time.
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Who are Wiltshire Police to say no crime was committed, surely that is for the AG to decide. I know what most of the tax paying public think.
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Gary 40 – Because anybody who dared criticised anything to do with this investigation was either labelled a paedophile, accused of sabotaging the investigation of being a part of an elaborate “cover up” and then along with their families subjected to a vile campaign of hate through the various blogs.
It was because the Island DID care and cared very passionately that we all got suckered into this fraud. Some people really need to wakeup and smell the coffee.
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Rico – Of course this report had to be completed and published. If you remember there has been a very public campaign by a group of politicians “Friends of Graham Power” and various blogs that this report MUST be published.
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And who was watching and signing all this off….no wait don’t tell me..one of our outstanding and poorly paid civil servants…er um ..accountability…..?
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cj
Who are Wiltshire Police to say no crime was committed, surely that is for the AG to decide. I know what most of the tax paying public think.
CJ Please tell us how you know what most of the tax paying paying public think? you really could help our beloved government they could just speak to you on any subject, and you could tell them what the public want, to have such awesome power to know what 100,000 people want!!
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I have my own company and if I tried to claim expenses like this the Tax man would throw them out.
Also surely these are benefits in kind.
Even if they get away from the fraud surely there are tax issues to be investigated.
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“Who are Wiltshire Police to say no crime was committed, surely that is for the AG to decide”
In any normal society.
But the cult of Syvret have left the”establishment” fearful of doing anything with the police in case they are accused of a conspiracy or cover up or being equivalent to North Korea (yes, that’s what Syvret said). So the cult of Syvret led directly to the cult-member Harper being allowed to spend thousands on top cuisine knowing that any attempt to rein him in would be attacked by the cult leader as “the sort of political interference that would not be out of place in Zimbabwe”.
And now Syvret says he is too ill to attend magistrate’s court. Too ashamed to show his face more like.
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No 38. That’s shocking and that’s only the travel expenses. I wonder what the total cost of this investigation is, including the cost of the Jersey police, civil servants,lawyers, and the cost of Power’s suspension.
I think there needs to be an independent investigation (by a UK police force or UK consultancy firm) into the costs of the Wiltshire investigation and how they have (not) been controlled.
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‘Two contributors argue and there is an point; what is the point of one contributor arguing?’
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How do I apply for a ‘States Credit card’ ? I want one.
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Donald Pond # 49. I hope Stuart Syvret is producing medical certificates to the court. I wonder if he could use the McNaughton Rules to get off those crimes he has been charged with?
Doubtless he will be able to seek advice from the coconut detective, who had a penchant for good food and wine – you can now see him on Facebook and send him messages.
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Makes me wonder just WHO are the crooks!!!!!,
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#44 Sanity – you refer to my comment but then you go off on a tangent and don’t answer it!
#45 Sanity – So why did they publish only 30% of the report?
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Gary 55.
Re: “So why did they publish only 30% of the report?”
…because that’s the Jersey way of doing things!
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I would like to ask how much Rosemary Geller’s drinking survey has been skewed by Lenny Harper’s bar bill?
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“travelling first class” – on the gatwick express. isn’t the reason for the cost overruns, and is perfectly reasonable since the officers might have wanted to discuss very sensitive issues (making good use of travel time) which is best done in a quiet/more private area.
“dining at top restaurants” is subjective. Sounds to me like the story writer is trying to inflame things – of course, because that’s what sells. No news is no news.
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Surely if there are strict guidelines as to how much and what can be purchased for meals then there is a clear case to recover the money that was overspent. The States should just freeze Harper’s pension and let him try and sue if he wants it back.
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When expenses were submitted by senior officers when I was a cop, in my experience they would rarely if ever, be scrutinised by their bosses.
Lenny Harper was the second in command of the S.o.J.P. and in a position of trust. He intimated he wanted to root out corruption – the term, “Pot calling the kettle black springs to mind.”
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truthseeker – the one signing this off was Power himself! When will you understand that the current COM is better than antyhing else around – Southern and Syvret are both walking disasters. There is no ‘Establishment’… jeez…
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61. Real Truthseeker – Are you sure Power was signing off Harper’s expenses – if so, where was the accounting control – Steven Austin Vautier?
And sorry, but if you believe that our current COM is better than anything else around, then we are all ‘doomed’.
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Syvret and Harper are as daft a one another.
All this fantasy rubbish about covers up.
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Gary @62: Imagine if Syvret had become the Chief Minister, which he very nearly did. Talk about doomed…
No government is perfect anywhere in the world. But this lot have been relatively successful, easy to bash politicians, though not really grounded in much fact. It may not be outstanding, but certainly not a failure by any stretch.
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You can always guarantee that whenever “Truthseeker” dares to voice his / her opinion on these forums, very soon after “Real Truthseeker” will come along and ridicule those opinions.
Both T and RT regularly make valid points so perhaps it’s time to stop being so petty?
Just my humble opinion.
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Tobias, The problem with T is that he/she takes the view that there is some conspiracy involving the ‘Establishment’. It doesn’t exist in JErsey at all, and if you have a problem with the States, it is very easily resolved. No politician is great anywhere int he world, however Jersey is very lucky because politicians pretty well much are all approachable, regardless of whether you agree/disagree with their views. T says democracy is at threat? Ridiculous – it is makign out we are in some sort of communist state. I have problems when T creates unnecessary and UNTRUE alarmist comments. I am not part of this fictioutous ‘Establishment’ – as a Kiwi I find Jersey extremely accessible, and government departments VERY amenable. T just likes to create havoc.
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I do not have extreme views one way or the other when it comes to assessing the state of government in Jersey.
I prefer to use fact not opinion. The fact remains that Jersey needs to save 20M next year, so there is overspend. States workers are the highest paid in the world, and the pension schemes are the highest in the world. The link between politicians and states workers is quite clear and is immoral and wrong.
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Actual Truthseeker: Which part of the link is immoral? Not sure what you mean by this? Certainly agree about the need to bring about additional funds to the islands coffers, however spending cuts are not always the answer – additional taxes, levied fairly are also an option.
For example, currently there is a £400 limit on GST relating to imports. Why does the states not reduced this limit, therefore making local purchasing more or equally attractive, keeping funds in the island, therefore preventing leakage.
Cuts are not always the answer, only part of it.
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The truthseeker is amused..faintly ..that his name is cloned,stolen,misrepresented and converted by so many….however the TRUTH is not for sale nor can it be stolen,though many seek to cover it up,just like the sunshine above the clouds it comes back out when the bad weather clears..and by the cringe there is some bad weather on here and more coming from our busted economy…the Phrase rats and sinking ships will be evident this winter…then see how the response of all the sycophantic establishment supporters wains like a pair of freyed suspenders.
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Tobias, 65
Your observations are spot on, this has been going on for a while, now we have another in the mix “Actual Truthseeker”! IMHO, I think that “Truthseeker” has the edge.
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“For example, currently there is a £400 limit on GST relating to imports. Why does the states not reduced this limit, therefore making local purchasing more or equally attractive, keeping funds in the island, therefore preventing leakage.”
The level of GST at the moment is so low that £400 worth of imported goods would only yield £12 worth of revenue.
There is a trade off between the cost of collection and the tax collected, lowering the current ceiling would require more staff that would be paid more than the tax colllected.
When GST is raised to 10% to fill the current ‘black hole’ it will be worth lowering the limit to £200 or less as this will raise £20!
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Firstly ‘Truthseeker’ having the edge? Don’t be silly! Look at his/her latest post – been drinking again haven’t you?
Pip Clement: Your logic doesn’t hold, as their is no additional cost since the structure is already in place. All it will mean is that parcels are harder to come by. Millions of pounds ar eimported below this threshold (check with Excise). Considerable revenue woudl result.
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Let us get a couple of things person calling themselves Real Truthseeker.
Of course you may call yourself any name you wish, but the name Truthseeker was around long before you piggy backed the name he / she is the original and you are the pretender. Thats ok because every respected writer always has some one that does not have the talent, is off the mark on most of their views but wishes they were really as good as the real truthseeker.
So you are paying him / her a complement.
For new readers, and those of you who are new to the internet look up the word troll and then think of a name like Realtruthseeker, who offers little but writes a lot, mostly rubbish with a ten percent chance of truth.
Davey.
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I notice in the JEP of 21 July there appeared a small corrective paragraph concerning the £52,000 expenses bill of the team who conducted this investigation.
I quote;
“The £52,000 actually related to entertainment expenses and the ‘miscellaneous’ amount was £11,000.”
£52,0000 spent on entertainment?
I trust in the interests of fairness and balance the JEP will look into this, and if the money was found to be spent on restaurants, expensive hotels or first clas travel, we can expect to see you printing a headline story on the investigating team’s taxpayer funded “celebrity lifestyle”?
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No.72.
The £52,000 relates only to meals and entertainment.
Travel and hotel costs are listed seperately and total £230,000.
I agree that the costs of this investigation have been excessive, and the investigation achieved little as it was conducted to support the case concerning Power’s dismissal (which has been abandoned)
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