Tonight we're looking deeper into the team of police officers that our information says executed the abduction of Joseph Budna.
We'll have that in a minute but first we look at the effect the event is having on the Briceno Cabinet. Observers suggest that it has created a schism between the Prime Minister and his Minister of Home Affairs. Jules Vasquez looked at the fact that the Prime Minister has ignored all of Musa's public suggestions on how to handle the investigation:
In the release labelled "Prime Minister Takes Decisions in the Budna Matter" - what it reveals is a total lack of regard for the public positions taken by the Minister of Home Affairs, Kareem Musa.
Musa has publicly supported both an investigation and the release of all video files:
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"And so the Prime Minister has said that after receiving the investigative report from the police department, he will review it and decide whether or not we need to have an independent investigation."
"My personal take on it, and I've mentioned it to the Prime Minister. I think regardless of the outcome of the investigation by police, because of the interest of this particular case, in terms of openness and transparency, it warrants an independent investigation."
The Prime Minister disagreed, he rejected Minister Musa's recommendation - instead, he appointed ACP Suzette Anderson. who is one of his Orange Walk Central constituents.
As for the surveillance video that all these organizations have publicly urged the state to release, Musa said he supported it.
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"It won't, in my opinion, ruin the integrity of the investigation to have these footages leaked. So by all means, release the footage, release the high resolution recording as well."
Reporter:
"So as the Minister of Home Affairs will let you release the footage?"
Kareem Musa, Minister of Home Affairs
"I don't have the footage, but yes, I will ask them to release the footage."
Well, the Prime Minister just ignored that one. His release makes no mention of the footage - even though this media house another's have written to him appealing for that release. He hasn't answered us and he ignored his own minister.
And more than that, Musa's choice of Commissioner Doctor Richard Rosado has been publicly humiliated, undermined and suspended just 131 days into his tenure. The release says his report on the kidnapping was "incomplete and, therefore, unsatisfactory" - unheard of and humiliating language for an official release.
Deputy Compol Bart Jones - who was not Musa's choice - is now acting Commissioner for at least the next 45 days, and possibly longer. The man Rosado brought off interdiction the day after he became Compol is Constable Barry Flowers - he is now back on interdiction.
ACP Suzette Anderson has roughly 21 days to complete an investigation in her own hometown. We presume she will be able to view - in full resolution - the videos from the surrounding government offices. If she does, will she have the courage to name her own officers? Will she question the Corporal who responded to the abduction but was waved off? Also, will she question the Corporal stationed at Arenal? None of them were questioned for Rosado's flimsy interim report to the PM.
And if that sends her to request the Commissioner's phone? What then for Assistant Compol Anderson? Tracking calls is a critical part of any such investigation.
And, will she track down the two vehicles used - to see who owned them, or if they are rentals, who paid?
And since - incredibly - the Prime Minister says that Cabinet and not the DPP will review her investigation, is this even a criminal investigation - and. if so, when will the suspects - who are police officers - be questioned? And when will their phones be seized - 18 days have passed since the abduction.
Many burning questions and tonight, no answers.
And while they may differ about how to handle the investigation - one thing the PM and the Minister of Home Affairs have in common is that they are both out of the country. Musa left for a meeting in Argentina on Saturday while the PM left for the US yesterday at 12:40, about half an hour after he sent out his statement.
