The long-anticipated police interview with Josephine
Seratus Tiga Puluh Tiga – Two Days 20 hours
Office of First Minister of Home Affairs, Singapore, Tuesday, 4:00 PM
As he had been trained by his boss, Josephine’s receptionist formally announced her visitors:
“Lieutenant Musa bin Ibrahim, Chief Inspector, Parliamentary Guards and Detective Inspector W. E. Frost, Director, Police Special Cases Unit.”
Shanmugam rose carefully behind her desk and stood bent slightly forward.
“Welcome, gentlemen. I apologize that I had a small accident earlier today, making it impossible for me to come around and greet you. Please have seats.”
Taking his seat, Frost noted a pillow with an absorbent cloth on her desk chair. Josephine lowered herself slowly and carefully into her chair.
“To what do I own the pleasure of your company, gentlemen? Your Commander, Musa, was very reticent about going into any details.”
“The Commander is aware of the need for confidentiality in this process. We don’t want any slanderous rumors leaking to besmirch high-placed officials.”
“That is commendable.” Josephine wondered what rumors he might fear.
“We are attempting to wrap up our investigation,” said Musa, “and your name came up once or twice. We hope to ask you a few questions and settle the matter.”
“Naturally, I am most willing to assist you in any way I can. However, I know virtually nothing of the matter. I don’t see how I can help you.”
“You are most likely correct in that, Minister. Please let us ask our questions, and we can be on our way.”
“Go right ahead, Chief Inspector. I am at your service.”
“Thank you so much. As you may know, our case focuses on Jimmy Rogers, agent of the CNB. Our inquiries indicate that he was responsible for the detention and rape of Miss Jones. Unfortunately, his death in flagrante delicto means that we cannot question him. Therefore we are questioning anyone who might have knowledge of his actions and motives. Did you know Jimmy Rogers?”
“No. Not Really. We never met or spoke. I saw Rogers testify at Barbara Moore’s trial, but that is the only time I ever saw the man.”
“Are you…”
“Wait. No, there was one other time. At the reception at Changi before Moore’s caning, I saw him there. He was flirting with Mr. Hodges’ secretary then. Isn’t she the one he’s accused of raping?”
“Yes, she is. So you saw Rogers twice at a distance and never spoke to him?”
“Correct. That’s all there is to it. Though I do understand the ‘innocent’ Miss Jones’ has been convicted of drug dealing.”
“That is a matter not in our purview. What we are interested in, Minister, how Rogers chose to be in Parliamentary Square last Monday morning. We have determined that it wasn’t a coincidence. He was looking for Miss Jones and seemed to have known she would be carrying papers on the Moore case.”
Musa paused to let this idea sink in. Frost was sure that he detected a slight change in Josephine’s demeanor, a bit of tensing, a trace of concern. She hides her feeling well, he thought. Just wait, dicky bird, there’s more to come!
“Well, that’s a most surprising revelation. I had never thought of any connection. But, again, what has it to do with me. I never met the man.”
“We are trying to determine how he knew about the timing of the court filing. We are sure someone involved in the case must have told him.”
“That sounds a reasonable presumption. And I was certainly involved in the case. However, I must repeat the third time that I never met the man.” Josephine intentionally added a degree of impatience to her voice.
“So you have told us. I understand your confusion, Minister. Please bear with me a moment more, and we can finish all this. Please remember that information given to Police or Parliamentary Guards investigators in the course of an investigation is regarded the same as testimony under oath and false statements carry similar punishments as perjury.”
“Chief Inspector.” Josephine raised her voice with an intended air of righteous indignation. I have the idiot, she thought. Trying to scare me with a perjury threat. He has nothing! “I am well aware of the law, and I resent you implying that I would lie to you. Let me repeat as clearly as possible, so you will get it right. I never met or spoke to Agent James Rogers of the Central Narcotics Bureau.”
“I was not implying anything, Minister. I appreciate your emphatically stated response. However, I need to ask,” he pulled a paper out of his briefcase, “about this sworn affidavit by a court clerk who says that when leaving Moore’s trial, he saw you and Rogers standing nearby, engaged in conversation.” He handed the sheet over to Josephine. Frost was sure that her olive complexion turned noticeably whiter as she tried to scan the document while thinking of a response.
“I..well I..”
Musa interrupted, “While you think of how to explain that, I would also like an explanation of this.” He pulled out several more papers and handed them to the flustered Minister. “These are detailed logs of activity at the CNB. They show you in a meeting with Jimmy Rogers in his office from 3:48 PM to 4:16 PM, 28 minutes, on Thursday, March 20th. That was four days before Miss Moore’s trial and only 19 days ago. Do you still not recall ever meeting and speaking with Mr. Rogers?”
Josephine was struck dumb by this bombshell. She stared for a few seconds at the detective, her mouth open. Finally, she began stuttering an excuse.
“Oh, yes…no, I…I’ve been so busy with my office…I recall now…a minor issue…”
“So, you did know Rogers and had spoken to him on more than one occasion?”
“Well, yes. I suppose so.”
“Did you speak to him Friday, a week ago at Moore’s caning, at the reception that you earlier mentioned?”
Josephine thought desperately for a moment. There were no police there. Not these detectives. And the prison would never turn over their surveillance tapes without hard evidence for a warrant. There was no way they could prove this!
“No, I certainly did not! I told you that already!” She tried to put her power-tone in her voice. But these men were not the type to be easily intimidated.
“Then we need an explanation of this note. It was given to Rogers on that Friday.” He handed her the post-it, sealed in a heavy-weight plastic sheaf. Josephine took it in her now trembling hands. She saw her own note, her own handwriting, and her own instructions for Rogers. This was too much! She cried out, to no one in particular:
“My God, No!! He was supposed to destroy this.” She looked at the detectives, with eyes pleading for their agreement, ”If I told him to destroy it, shouldn’t I be confident that it was destroyed?”