Integrity Commission probing one senator and six MPs over illicit enrichment

A sitting senator is among parliamentarians under scrutiny for possible illicit enrichment or false filings with Jamaica’s Integrity Commission, according to the anti-corruption body’s annual report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

The commission said six members of the House of Representatives are currently under investigation for potential illicit enrichment and/or false information, alongside one member of the Senate, for alleged breaches of the Integrity Commission Act. Over the period April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2026, 14 MPs were referred for such probes; six of those matters were later closed after investigation or preliminary inquiry. In one illicit-enrichment or false-information case, authorities decided not to bring charges; in another, the commission recommended that charges be laid.

Over the same eight years, eight councillors were referred to the director of investigations on similar grounds—one case closed after inquiry, and two rulings favouring charges. Eight heads of public entities were also investigated, with four of those files since closed. In the 2025–2026 financial year, 18 matters were referred for investigation and 10 were pursued; all active cases remain ongoing at various stages under section 33 of the Act. By year-end, 31 matters had been completed or closed—two tabled in Parliament, 26 closed on inquiry, and three sent to competent agencies.

Elsewhere, a 20-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy are in custody after police seized a green-and-black imitation firearm at a club party in Trinityville, St. Thomas, on Monday. Officers acting on a tip allegedly saw the adult pass the item to the teen. The man was held on suspicion of possessing a prohibited weapon; the minor fled and was later caught in York district. The weapon was sent to the Montego Bay Criminal Investigation Branch.

In Bamboo, St. Ann, a search continues for Owen Teacher Hamilton, 66, of Steer Town, who left home last Saturday by public transport for a grave digging on Mountain Road and has not been heard from since. He is about 6 ft tall, roughly 170 lb, with grey hair, and was last seen in a plaid shirt and black pants. Relatives from St. James and Trelawny joined local residents Tuesday. Anyone with information is asked to contact St. Ann’s Bay police or call 876-841-0239 or 876-369-0145.

In the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston, a ballistics expert contracted by INDECOM testified Tuesday that at least one of three men killed on January 12, 2013—Matthew Lee, Eucliff Dyer and Mark Allen—was shot while the front left passenger door of a blue Mitsubishi Outlander was open, based on blood evidence on door-related surfaces. Six officers—Sergeant Steve Roy Mott, Corporal Donovan Fullerton, and Constables Andrew Smith, Sheldon Richards, Oral Randy Rose and Richard Lynch—are on trial for murder over the Cade Drive, Barbican, St. Andrew shooting; Fullerton also faces a charge of making false statements to INDECOM. The defence is led by Hugh Wildman, Althea Grant and Copping, and John Jacobs. Prosecutor Kathy Ann Pyke conducted examination-in-chief.

In Clarendon, Parkhall Primary and Infant School reported a break-in during the summer recess. Board chair Karen Carty said the principal alerted the board Tuesday morning after a padlock on the grade-four classroom was damaged; nothing appeared stolen. Carty said the school is community-based and that such an intrusion is unacceptable.