THE OFFICE of the Contractor General's 11-monthlong special investigation into the issuance of licences to Index Communications Network Limited, trading as GOTEL, has ended with findings pointing to either breaches of duty, misconduct, or criminal offence on the part of an officer or member of a public body.

Yesterday, the Office of the Contractor General (OCG) sent a copy of its 198-page report to the director of public prosecutions, commissioner of police, the Corruption Prevention Commission and the attorney general "for such action as any or all of them may deem to be appropriate having regard to the evidence that the OCG has found in the matter".

Started investigation

The OCG started its investigation into the issuance of licences to GOTEL on April 22, 2008, after Prime Minister Bruce Golding wrote to the OCG requesting a probe into the matter.

In his April 14, 2008 letter to Contractor General Greg Christie, Golding said the security forces had brought to his attention concerns regarding the issue of licences to GOTEL.

The OCG, in a media release yesterday, said Golding had also indicated that his investigations had led him "to the view that the matter requires the most thorough investigations by the contractor general".

Forced to pay bribes

In April last year, chairman of GOTEL, George Neil, charged that he was forced to pay bribes to officials of two state agencies to get his mobile licence.

He made these allegations in a letter to Energy Minister Clive Mullings.

Neil said he was pressured by staff members of both the Spectrum Management Authority and the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to pay kickbacks to process its applications for a spectrum assignment and a mobile licence.

Both Spectrum Management Authority and the OUR had vowed to take legal action against GOTEL Limited.

The OCG said copies of the report have been dispatched to 11 state authorities.