Workers’ Party’ s James Gomez questioned by police again today over alleged offences at Elections Department

By Ahmad Osman
May 9, 2006
AsiaOne Special Political Correspondent

POLICE questioned Mr James Gomez, who participated in the general elections as a Workers’ Party (WP) candidate for the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC), for five hours today (May 9).

This was in connection with allegations by the Elections Department that he committed two offences: criminal intimidation and giving false information.

The police also gave him a letter to explain to his employer in Sweden that he could not return to his job there because his assistance was required in the on-going probe, said Mr Gomez in a statement to the press.

This letter, which was included with his press statement today, noted that he gave his passport voluntarily to the police on Sunday (May 7) at 11.30 pm.

Mr Gomez said that he also gave the police a copy of his application for a minority election candidate certificate and a letter authorising another person to submit the application and collect the certificate on his behalf.

He added that he did not submit the two documents to the department.

Mr Gomez is a policy analyst with the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), an inter-governmental organisation supporting sustainable democracy worldwide. He was among five WP members who contested in the hotly-contested Aljunied GRC in the general election held last Saturday (May 6).

The WP team was narrowly beaten by its People's Action Party (PAP) opponents, led by Foreign Minister George Yeo, who secured 56 per cent of the votes.

In the run up to polling day, Mr Gomez claimed that he submitted an application for a certificate attesting to his minority status on April 24, but when he went to collect the document later, the department said it did not have his application.

He waved his finger at the officials and was seen saying: “You know what’s the implication? Something must happen. When will you call me?”

Subsequently, when the department reviewed a recording by its closed circuit camera, it showed Mr Gomez putting the form in his briefcase and walking away with it. The department released the recording to the media.

His behaviour and the WP's decision not to drop him from its Aljunied slate drew heavy criticism from PAP leaders.

Mr Gomez later apologised, saying he was “distracted”, but this did not placate his critics.

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Wong Kang Seng issued a statement detailing how Mr Gomez “stage-managed” the incident to damage the government and discredit the department.

Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew called Mr Gomez a liar and challenged the WP man and the party’s leaders to sue him if that was untrue.

Last Sunday (May 7), as Mr Gomez was at Changi Airport, about to leave for Sweden, he was approached by police officers. They asked him to follow them back to the Criminal Investigation Department to help them in their investigation.

He agreed and was questioned for eight hours.

Today, Mr Gomez said in his press statement that he had brought to the police's attention his concerns about his financial and work obligations. He has not been able to go back to work since Sunday and he cannot get a refund for his transit trip via Bangkok to Sweden.

He said that because he cannot go back to work, he faces loss of his income because he still has to pay rentals, utilities and other bills for his accommodation in Sweden.

His statement added: “James Gomez says he remains committed to giving his fullest co-operation to the investigations and hopes the authorities take into consideration his concerns on financial and work obligations and his need to return to work in Sweden.”