Special Prosecutor Michael P. Copeland said investigators seized the computers pursuant to law.
He cannot elaborate because “there is an ongoing investigation and disclosing the nature, scope or direction of the investigation might jeopardize the investigation.”Asked if the seizure of the computers had something to do with the withdrawn nomination of Youlsau Bells as minister of natural resources, environment and tourism, Copeland said it wasn’t.There had been questions about the authenticity of Bells’ educational credentials.“It was simple coincidental timing that it was in the news at the time we seized the computers,” Copeland said. “Our office received information that gave us probable cause to believe evidence of criminal activity is contained on the hard drives of those computers, and there was a danger that if we didn’t seize the computers promptly the evidence might be destroyed.”Copeland added that the Toribiong administration was fully cooperative and was helpful in turning over evidence to the investigators.
