FLORIDA CONGRESSWOMAN CRITICIZES GCOB ON 2006

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000390 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/23/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM BF SUBJECT: FLORIDA CONGRESSWOMAN CRITICIZES GCOB ON 2006 JOURNALIST BEATING PROBE REF: A. 06 NASSAU 243 ¶B. 06 NASSAU 862 Classified By: Charge Zuniga-Brown for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (U) In recent comments to local media, Florida Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen criticized the GCOB's investigation into the alleged beating of a U.S. journalist by Immigration Detention Center guards in February 2006. ¶2. (C) The incident prompted Florida congressional interest and U.S. protests at the time, and GCOB officials promised a prompt investigation (ref A). The Foreign Minister later told Post that the GCOB could do nothing if the alleged victim was unwilling to press charges, as appeared to be the case (ref B). ¶3. (U) The Bahamian police commissioner told media recently, after a daily newspaper's dogged pursuit of the issue over the years, that authorities found insufficient evidence for a prosecution and turned the matter over to the Royal Bahamas Defense Force for possible internal investigation. ¶4. (C) Post has no information about the results of this probe, if any were ever undertaken. The Ministry of National Security told Post, upon inquiry about the accuracy of recent GCOB statements, that the case had been thoroughly investigated at the time. Speaking informally, an official said the alleged victim was unwilling to file a complaint but that the Ministry would attempt to clarify the matter. Post will report any further reply septel. ZUNIGA-BROWN