Attachment 2
Letter to Ms Caroline Adams, Political
Office, 10 Downing Street, from Mr Graeme Peene
Thank you for your letter of 19th April 2001 the
contents of which have been noted. As a former Police Officer
and serving Civil Servant investigating fraud related matters
I am deeply concerned about corruption and criminal conduct both
in Government Departments and the Public Sector. Unfortunately,
I appear to be in the minority whereas political expediency and
self-interest takes priority over the rule of law and standards
in Public Office.
I note that you have had the opportunity of discussing
my case with Mr VAZ, Member for Leicester East, and that Mr VAZ
has reviewed his file etc. * * *
* * *
The other totally separate issue concerning Mr VAZ
related to a politically sensitive Russian Butter Export Refund
Investigation that a colleague and myself had been conducting
on behalf of the Intervention Board. Only one external enquiry
had been made, the investigation was not registered, and yet Mr
VAZ found out about the investigation.
Mr VAZ wrote to me, and my wife and I attended an
appointment with him in the belief that Mr VAZ has some news concerning
the Department of Trade & Industry issue. Mr VAZ sought to
obtain information from myself about the Russian Butter Export
Refund Investigation and enquired whether or not the investigation
had anything to do with my problems at the Department of Trade
& Industry. I refused to discuss the matter with Mr VAZ.
Irrespective of the other matters that Mr VAZ has
dealt with as the Member for Leicester East, I believe that The
Prime Ministers Office should be deeply concerned about how Mr
VAZ came to be in possession of information relating to a confidential
Politically Sensitive Criminal Investigation. Mr VAZ should be
asked what his motives were, upon whose behalf was he acting,
and how he could justify making such an approach.
The approach made by Mr VAZ was immediately reported
to the Intervention Board and they failed to deal with the issue.
Because of the Intervention Boards failure to deal with this and
the other issues I took the matter concerning Mr VAZ out of their
hands and in The Public Interest reported the matter to Elizabeth
Filkin, The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards under the
provisions of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
I trust this provides you with a clearer understanding
of the events as they are and not as others would wish to portray
them, or rewrite history as in George Orwell's 1984.
Should Mr VAZ wish to meet with me to provide an
explanation for his conduct in relation to the Russian Butter
Export Refund Investigation I would be prepared to meet with him.
23 April 2001
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