Jagdeo taunts SOCU

Dec 21, 2018 News

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo is almost begging the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) to go after him and other People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) officials who benefitted from the controversial distribution of large portions of high valued land at Ogle (Pradoville). SOCU’s contention is that the lands were given to ‘chosen ones’ for a price less than the real value.
As such, SOCU recently laid 19 charges against former Minister of Housing, Irfaan Ali as the plots of land were distributed by him.
At his most recent press conference, Jagdeo said, “They have laid charges against Irfaan. But, they have not laid charges against any of the other beneficiaries. Why?”
Jagdeo is one of the beneficiaries.
On many occasions, Jagdeo said that SOCU has no clue what it is doing. In fact, at his press conference, Jagdeo exuded confidence that the charges will not translate to any conviction. He said that it is just a plot by the Coalition to distract the nation from the “real issues” at hand.
Further, Jagdeo said that the Coalition is so scared of the PPP that it is instructing that charges be laid against potential presidential candidates. He said that he will not allow any of these tactics to scare him into shying away from selecting a candidate that will suit the post.
As he built upon his point that only potential candidates are being charged, Jagdeo said, “Look, Anil Nandlall is being taken to court for a few law books. They are spending all this money, millions of dollars behind special prosecutors and so on; to go after law books worth a couple hundred thousand…This is how petty they are.”
Jagdeo continued, “And again I ask, why they haven’t charged any of the beneficiaries for the Pradoville lands. The only reason Pradoville is so important to them is because I live there, that is the only reason.”
Last month, Ali was hauled before the court and slapped with 19 fraud charges.
The former minister is accused of defrauding Government of over $174 M, by selling several plots of State lands, below the market value, to former ministers of the then PPP/C government.
Representing Ali are Attorneys Devindra Kissoon, Anil Nandlall, Priya Manickchand, Jaya Manickchand and Sase Gunraj.
Ali was not required to plead to the 19 indictable charges and was released on his own recognizance (self bail).
The charges against Ali stated that between the period 2011 and 2015, he conspired with persons unknown to defraud the Government, when he acted recklessly by selling19 plots of State Lands at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara. The lands which were sold for a mere $39.8M, are valued at $212.4M, according to SOCU.

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