Georgetown: Weeks after the High Court ruled that the charges of misconduct in public office against recently appointed Finance Minister Ashni Singh and former Head of NICIL Winston Brassington could continue in the Magistrates’ Court, the Special Organised Crime Unit of the Guyana Police Force had the cases withdrawn.
The two officials had moved to the High Court to challenge the validity of the charges for the sale of state lands under the previous PPP Government.
The charges were filed against the two in 2018 under the coalition government following an investigation into the sale of government lands at prices that were found to be below-market prices.
When the matter was called in the Magistrates’ Court Monday for its continuation, the SOCU Prosecutor informed the Court that SOCU was no longer continuing with the charges, which have since been completely withdrawn.
The two were represented by Attorney Sase Gunraj. The two men had always maintained their innocence and said they believe the charges were politically motivated.
Charges that were being faced by President Irfaan Ali in connection with the same land deals were also withdrawn after he took office as President and the Director of Public Prosecutions recently withdrew charges against Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
Nandlall was facing charges in connection with the alleged theft of law books from the Legal Affairs Ministry.
With the change in government, Dr. Singh and Mr. Brassington have returned to work with the government. Dr. Singh was recently appointed Senior Minister in the Office of the President responsible for Finance and Mr. Brassington is part of a committee that is spearheading the gas-to-shore project.
Dr. Singh, as then Finance Minister and NICIL Chairman- and Brassington on May 14, 2011 by way of an agreement of sale and purchase “acted recklessly when they sold Multicinema Guyana Inc. a 10 acre tract of State land at Turkeyen for GY$185,037,000 without first having procured a valuation from a competent valuation officer.
Similarly, they had been accused of selling 103 acres of state land, by an agreement of sale and purchase, to National Hardware Guyana Limited for GY$598,659,398 (VAT exclusive) with first procuring a valuation. The third and similar charge also had to do with the sale of 4.7 acres of land for GY$150 million to Scady Business Corporation, “knowing that the said property was valued at GY$340 million by Rodrigues Architects Associate, a competent valuation officer.
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