Police ignores Pak senator's blame on lax security on Bob's murder

Kingston, Mar 28 (UNI) Jamaican police have ignored a Pakistani senator's accusation of lax security in the World Cup being the cause for Bob Woolmer's murder.

Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) had quoted Zafar Iqbal Chaudhary, chairman of Pakistan's Senate Standing Committee on Sports, as saying on Monday that security personnel in Jamaica should be blamed for Woolmer's murder.

''I would say that lax security at the team's hotel may also share the blame for this heart-rending incident,'' Chaudhary was quoted as saying by the news agency.

Head of Jamaica local security for the showpiece event, Assistant Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, however, refused to join issues with the Pakistani senator, saying ''in the light of the probe into Woolmer's death it was not appropriate to comment on the allegation at this time''.

''Our position is that there is an investigation going on and we will have to examine security as part of that investigation,'' Ellington told Jamaica Observer.

''So even in the face of criticism, it is not wise to reply.

That might send the wrong signal.'' CEO and managing director of the World Cup, Chris Dehring, had defended the security arrangements in a press conference called at Hotel Pegasus to announce Woolmer's murder.

''We have reviewed security arrangements in place and we believe that they are adequate for the event and it is certainly appropriate, based on the master security plan that was drafted and (put) in place,'' Dehring had said.

A member of staff at the Pegasus, however, took issue with the Pakistani senator's claim.

''How can you tell a guest not to let someone in their room? Persons without an electronic key cannot gain access to guest floors. I hope the investigation comes through quickly so we can find who did it and why,'' said the unnamed staff member.

UNI