SAINT HELLIER, Jersey, May 18 (UPI) -- A police official in Jersey is being probed for allegedly misrepresenting material found at a former children's home as human remains, The Mail on Sunday said.
The material was found at the site of the former Haut de la Garenne children's home. Deputy Police Chief Lenny Harper, who has been leading an investigation into a possible homicide, has characterized the material as human bone, even though forensics experts determined six weeks ago it was just a piece of coconut shell or wood, the newspaper said.
Investigators from outside Harper's department are looking into possible "abuse of authority" allegations, given that Harper had been notified in a May 1 letter that the evidence had been determined not to be human remains. Harper said he was unaware of the forensics result or the letter until it was e-mailed to him this weekend, the newspaper said.
Lawyers for 27 former residents of the children's home are set to initiate lawsuits in the matter, the report said.
Harper has denied he misled members of the media during his investigation, saying his department has been open with all of its findings.
"That's not how we do things. We are transparent," he told the Mail.