Examination of Witness (Questions 34 -
39)
TUESDAY 30 JANUARY 2001
MR JAFFER
KAPASI OBE DL MKD
Chairman
34. Welcome to the Committee, Mr Kapasi. Of
course you are the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, and
you have brought with you your solicitor, Mr Mark Stephens of
Finers Stephens Innocent.
(Mr Kapasi) That is right, sir.
35. Mr Stephens, you will only answer questions
that we put to you but of course you can advise your client accordingly
at any time.
(Mr Stephens) Sir, could I ask one question to clarify
a matter at the beginning?
36. Only on procedure, nothing else.
(Mr Stephens) It was really this, that we at the moment
do not know the identities of the complainants.
37. I am sorry. That is not a matter you can
raise. We will be putting to Mr Kapasi questions. It will be for
him to answer with or without the advice that you may wish to
offer him. Right, Mr Kapasi. We are looking into the relationship
with Mr Vaz. How and when did you meet him? What are your connections
with Mr Vaz?
(Mr Kapasi) I have known Mr Vaz since around 1985
before he was elected an MP. My dealings with him have only been
on a community issue basis in terms of somebody coming to see
me to say, "Look, can you please help me with an immigration
issue or a housing issue?". Then I would refer him to Mr
Vaz. We met before he became an MP. He was setting up an organisation
called Leicestershire Asian Business Association, which I was
a founding member of as well, so we had that connection before.
38. How much money did you give Mr Vaz during
the period in more recent times?
(Mr Kapasi) I have never given any money to Mr Vaz
except the £52 donation to one of his charities called Sahara
Trust.
39. Did he ask you for any money at any time?
(Mr Kapasi) He has never asked me for any money.
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