No charges for politician named in scandal: police

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said Friday it will not lay criminal charges against one of the politicians named in a wide-ranging spending scandal at the provincial legislature.

The RNC said in a brief statement that there are "insufficient grounds to lay any criminal charge" against Liberal Percy Barrett, one of five politicians named in reports released in 2006 by Auditor General John Noseworthy.

Barrett had said earlier this week he was confident he would not be charged.

Barrett was travelling in his district of Bellevue on Friday and was not available to comment.

The Liberal caucus office said Barrett is expected to speak on the development next week.

Police have laid fraud and other charges against four politicians from three political parties, as well as a suspended civil servant. The RNC opened its investigation more than a year ago after receiving Noseworthy's reports.

This week, the RNC charged former Progressive Conservative MHA Ed Byrne, who was forced to quit his cabinet post as natural resources minister in June 2006, as well as former New Democrat MHA Randy Collins.

Police also charged Bill Murray, who was suspended as director of financial operations at the house of assembly when news of the scandal broke 14 months ago.

Earlier, police had charged Liberal MHA Wally Andersen and former Liberal cabinet minister Jim Walsh.

Noseworthy found that the five politicians together had received about $1.6 million more than they were entitled in tax-free constituency allowances.

Barrett had made provisions over the last few months to repay most of the excessive payments made through his constituency allowance and has claimed that about $30,000 of the $117,286 identified by Noseworthy's office was related to legitimate expenses.