Dr. Luncheon arrested by SOCU, Jagdeo says it’s a witch hunt intended to break the spirit of the PPP  

 

Officials of the Special Organized Crime United on Tuesday arrested former Cabinet Secretary under the People’s Progressive Party Government, Dr. Roger Luncheon  for alleged misappropriation of state assets.

 

The arrest was made at the Leader of the Opposition Office in the presence of several PPP members including former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar.

 

The arrest came one day after PPP MPs and other former cabinet members refused to be questioned at SOCU Headquarters. The PPP in turning down the invitation said its members would prefer to be questioned at the Leader of the Opposition Office.

 

Jagdeo told media operatives that Dr. Luncheon’s arrest is a witch hunt that is intended to break the spirit of the PPP.

 

SOCU had invited the PPP members to its headquarters for questioning as the probe into the Pradoville 2 land deal widens.

 

Persons who acquired housing lots in the at Pradoville 2 include former President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Ministers Priya Manickhand, Clement Rohee, Robert Persaud, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, Shaik Baksh and Jennifer Westford along with former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon.

 

Former Army Chief, retired Commodore Gary Best and Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali Hack along with several other prominent figures also accepted lands in the area and were also invited for questioning.

 

They have not objected.

 

SOCU began its investigation after a forensic audit into the land deal, found that the recipients underpaid for the lands by more than $250 million.

 

The audit report also pointed to the subsequent sale of the lots acquired by Priya Manickchand and Robert Persaud for $100M and $90M respectively.

 

The report noted that in 2010, the PPP government, through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), also spent more than $200M to develop the sea side area.

 

 

 

Sophia teen charged for murdering Police Commissioner’s brother

 

A 15 – year – old boy was on Tuesday morning (March 7th)  remanded to the Juvenile Holding Center for the murder of Haymant Persaud, the brother of Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.

 

The lad appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann Mc Lennan where the indictable charge was read to him in a closed-door session.

 

Persaud, 51, of Affiance, Essequibo Coast, was stabbed to death on February 19, 2017, in the vicinity of the Stabroek Market Area.

 

The man’s body was positively identified earlier last week by the Top Cop.

 

There are reports that Persaud was attacked and robbed of his cash and other valuables at knifepoint. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

PPP MPs turn down questioning at SOCU Headquarters, Former Army Chief and DPP to also be questioned

 

The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) has invited several persons who acquired land at Pradoville 2 for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation, but several People’s Progressive Party Members of Parliament, including Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo are refusing to be interviewed at SOCU Headquarters.

SOCU Head, Sydney James received a letter from former Attorney General Anil Nandlall indicating that the former PPP cabinet members and sitting opposition MPs would prefer to be questioned away from SOCU Headquarters.

Nandlall said while the PPP members are not obliged to cooperate, they will, and would rather face questioning at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition.

Persons who acquired housing lots in the at Pradoville 2 include former President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Ministers Priya Manickhand, Clement Rohee, Robert Persaud, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, Shaik Baksh and Jennifer Westford along with former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon.

Former Army Chief, retired Commodore Gary Best and Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali Hack along with several other prominent figures also accepted lands in the area and were also invited for questioning.

They have not objected.

SOCU began its investigation after a forensic audit into the land deal, found that the recipients underpaid for the lands by more than $250 million.

The audit report also pointed to the subsequent sale of the lots acquired by Priya Manickchand and Robert Persaud for $100M and $90M respectively.

The report noted that in 2010, the PPP government, through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), also spent more than $200M to develop the sea side area.

 

 

Small miners enthusiastic about new syndicate initiative

 

Recently established syndicates of small miners from across Guyana got together on Monday (March 6th) in Georgetown to push for greater recognition and better representation.

The meeting which was held at the 1763 Monument (Cuffy Square) also saw some small miners speaking about the problems that they face on a daily basis in the industry.

It was the collective view of those present that these newly formed syndicates will foster a better mechanism where small miners will be well recognized for their talent and contribution.

Small miners were very enthusiastic about the new syndicate initiative.

The meeting was held even as there are plans to establish a national syndicate to bring together all the organizations to support each other.

Miners said it was a great opportunity for them to come together and showcase their capacity as a team.

The miners raised the issue of land management and said it is becoming increasing important for small miners to be given land to mine.

Police Corporal, Civilian could face criminal charges in AK-47 discovery

 

A Police Corporal and a civilian is likely to be criminally charged while several other ranks of the Guyana Police Force could face disciplinary action over the recent discovery of an AK-47 rifle.

 

Police Investigators have completed their probe into the AK47 rifle that was found in a vehicle on Carmichael Street.  The suspicious vehicle was reportedly traced from police headquarters after it left the compound.

 

The vehicle was intercepted and a search was carried out where the weapon was found.

 

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed the file has been completed and the police corporal and the civilian who were fingered in the criminal activity are expected to face criminal charges.

 

The Crime Chief also said that the investigators recommended disciplinary charges against the Assistant Superintendent of Police and other ranks who were on duty, on the night in question.

 

The file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice and it is expected back shortly.

 

The crime chief said that they have been encountering some difficulties restoring the serial number on the firearm and because of this, it makes it very difficult to say if the weapon is the property of the Guyana Police Force.

 

He said based on the general appearance, the rifle is not the property of the Guyana Police Force, but he would like to confirm the serial number in order to know if the gun was lodged with the police.

 

Blanhum says the police have their own suspicions as to the origin of the weapon, which he refused to disclose to the media since the investigation is still ongoing.

 

The crime chief posited that the ballistics tests conducted on the weapon revealed that it was not used in any previous crime.

Ex-cop charged with teen’s murder

Former policeman and murder accused Lloyd Roberts was on Thursday (March 2) charged and remanded to prison for murder when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that Roberts murdered Ryan Sergeant, the teen who was killed outside of the Rio night club in 2016.

The North Ruimveldt resident, who was unrepresented was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

According to police prosecutor Deniro Jones, the Police file was completed and 31 witnesses are set to testify in the hearing.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan said the matter will be called again on March 10 for fixture of the trial date.

The 19 year-old victim of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown was shot once to his head and reportedly dumped outside the Woodlands Hospital, where he was subsequently died.

Roberts is currently on remand after being charged in January with the discovery of guns and ammunition during a police raid at a John Street, Campbellville home.

Five Berbicians charged with phone card vendor’s murder

Five persons were this morning jointly charged with the murder of Berbice phone card vendor, Danian Jagdeo who was gunned down during a robbery at Adventure Village, Corentyne last Wednesday.

Those charged are Mark Doman, 22, of Nigg Settlement Corentyne, Abdul Azimuller, 34, of Hampshire Corentyne, Abdul Zahir, 28, of New Scheme Adelphi East Canje Berbice, Shannon Batson, 24, of Hampshire Village and Satesh Budram, 19, also of Hampshire Village Corentyne.

They were not required to plead to the indictable charge when they appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga at the Whim Magistrates’ Court and were all remanded.

The men accused police in Berbice of assaulting them and even displayed visible marks of violence.

Initially, eight persons were held for Jagdeo’s murder. Reports suggested that a teen implicated in the murder, will be used as a state witness against those charged, following his release.

The men will return to court on March 4, 2017.