And it seems that Patt has decided to take the advised position to challenge the findings. As you heard, the Commission's findings on the saga of his government-issued Toyota Tacoma were damning.
About an hour before the start of our newscast, he granted us a phone interview to say that he will be defending his reputation in court:
Hon. Hugo Patt, Will Challenge COI
"In my opinion I feel that my rights have been seriously violated and I don't see how on earth the commission could have made these conclusions and so I take this very seriously and I could tell you from now that I will be challenging this report and I will be taking court actions. As a matter of fact, I could go and indicate to you that I am already preparing to file a suit against this report."
Reporter
"So, you are implying that reject and completely deny the allegations being raised. Is that correct?"
Hon. Hugo Patt, Will Challenge COI
"Redundantly, that's the reason I am challenging this report."
Patt has retained Former Prime Minister Dean Barrow as his attorney who tells us that they will challenge the findings of the Commission of Inquiry "full tilt".
He insists that Patt's constitutional rights and his rights to natural justice were violated by the Commission. As soon as that case ends up in court, we'll tell you all about it.
As for the allegations against PM Barrow himself, via WhatsApp he told us, quote, "The evidence has been misrepresented - in one instance manufactured - by the report, and the applicable law has been improperly cited, misapplied. The spleen and bias of the Chairman, in particular, is clear. I, therefore, pour scorn on the report and am willing to wager that it will not pass judicial muster." End quote.
This afternoon, we made multiple phone calls and text message requests to Frank "Papa" Mena for comment. Up until news time, he has not responded. We also contacted Financial Secretary Joseph Waight; he has not responded to our text message request for comment.
