What happened at the Animals’ Shelter?

What happened at the Animals’ Shelter?

The secretly recorded footage, filmed between 4am and 5am on 28 January last year, has further fuelled speculation about how the charity plunged into its financial crisis and what exactly was going on at the organisation in the weeks after the inquiry began.

The JSPCA’s former vice-president, Sean Power has confirmed to the JEP that he is the man in the footage – but said he was merely removing boxes of men’s clothing which were to be taken to another charity.

His comments come as questions continue to be asked over the status of the police investigation, which began in 2017 but has so far not resulted in any arrests.

However, the JEP understands that former JSPCA chief executive Stephen Coleman, who was sacked after concerns were raised about the charity’s finances, has been interviewed as part of the probe.

Explaining the video, which was posted on Facebook and has since been passed to the States police, Mr Power said: ‘I had some charity boxes of men’s clothing delivered to the JSPCA from a donor for use by men at either [the men’s refuge] Sanctuary or my other shelter in New Street.

‘I was flying to South Africa that day for a holiday and I wanted to clear these boxes from the JSPCA reception.’

Mr Power, a former States Deputy, confirmed that he had made statements to the States police as part of the investigation but has not been formally interviewed.

‘As serving vice-president at the time of the investigation I did speak to the States police with the president, along with other committee members from time to time. I was never interviewed. I willingly made some statements to the States police regarding their investigation.’

Meanwhile, this week it emerged that £500,000 of public money is being loaned to the JSPCA by the States, despite serious questions remaining about the financial viability of the troubled organisation.

The States loan, which was signed off by Treasury Minister Susie Pinel and is to be repaid with interest by the end of June 2020, will be used to clear a commercial loan secured on the charity’s property. The original loan was taken out in the last two years by the JSPCA committee with a 10% interest rate.

The States lending is in addition to a £500,000 loan facility taken out by the debt-ridden organisation to provide working capital for reorganisation, of which only £100,000 has been drawn down so far. The remainder will act as a back-up facility if required.

And the JEP understands that despite the charity’s financial woes and the launch of a public appeal to raise cash to help save it, a property in St Peter left to it and a number of other charities in a will is still standing empty, unsold, three years after its owner died.

Business ‘fixer’ Kevin Keen, who is working voluntarily as the JSPCA’s interim chief executive to help resolve the financial problems, said that at the time the commercial loan was taken out the committee would have had ‘little or no’ choice but to accept a 10% interest rate because mainstream lenders were reluctant to lend to them.

He said the organisation was grateful for the help from the States and that he was confident the loan, which is secured with a first charge on the JSPCA property in St Saviour’s Road, could be repaid within the term.

‘What the States are doing is really supporting us to repay the loan and we will still have effectively £1.1 million worth of debt, £500,000 of it to the States.’

He added: ‘We will be paying a lot less than we were but it is still a reasonable rate for both sides.’

Mr Keen said he was aware of the CCTV claims, and that the video and online posts relating to it were referred to the States police.

The police say the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. The force said it could not disclose whether the CCTV is part of the investigation as inquiries are live.

Former Deputy Jackie Hilton, a long-term animal rights supporter, said she had major concerns that the ongoing mystery over the affairs of the JSPCA could prevent people donating to the charity.

‘Based on the fact that a private loan at an interest rate of 10% is due for repayment, I am very pleased that the States have stepped forward and offered a loan to the JSPCA in order that they can meet their obligations,’ she said.

‘My major concern about the trouble the JSPCA finds itself in at the moment is the Island ending up without a facility for the public to be able to take lost and injured pets and those for rehoming.’

She added: ‘I don’t know the background behind the chief executive being suspended or sacked, but the uncertainty around his departure isn’t helping the charity because there may be people in the background who may be quite willing to come forward with financial help but they are not because we don’t know the outcome of these investigations.’

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