The Premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush (57), has been arrested and is currently detained in police custody in connection with a number of ongoing police investigations.

Officers from the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit arrested Mr. Bush at around 7.00 am this morning (Tuesday 11 December 2012) at his home in West Bay.

Mr. Bush has been arrested on suspicion of

• Theft,  in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a Government credit card, and

• Breach of trust, Abuse of office and Conflict of interest, contrary to S13, S17 and S19 of the Anti-Corruption Law 2008 respectively, in connection with the alleged importation of explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012.

The RCIPS said it would be inappropriate for them to make any further comment in relation to these matters at this time. Further updates will be made available in due course, they added.

Premier Bush was due in Jamaica in a few days time to collect an honourary degree from a Jamaican University.

At 11:30AM the United Democratic Party (UDP) on Tuesday 11th issued a Statement confirming they had been informed of the Premier’s arrest and were in Caucus. The Statement was then, surprisingly, withdrawn two minutes later.

In a brief phone exchange between Leonard Dilbert, the premier’s chief of staff and the Washington Post, Dilbert said Bush will continue working as the three-island territory’s leader amid the ongoing police probes.

“There have been no charges,” Dilbert added.

We will advise further on this shocking story