Defence to make closing remarks in trial of acting Deeds and Commercial Registrar

Oct 19, 2019 News

As the trial continues for acting Deeds and Commercial Registrar, Azeena Baksh, her lawyer Nigel Hughes is preparing to make closing remarks in her defence.
Baksh was charged in May

Azeena Baksh

2017 for allegedly obtaining monies by false pretence. She is before Magistrate Leron Daly in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The charge against her states that while being a member of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) between May 1, 2014 and January 31, 2017, with intent to defraud, she caused or procured valuable securities to the sum of $4,534,480 to be delivered to her bank of Nova Scotia account #281469; or to her own use and benefit by falsely pretending she was a contracted employee of the Deeds and Commercial Registry Authority.
Baksh, 30, of 343 Eccles, East Bank Demerara, has been released on $250,000 bail. She was ordered to lodge her passport and report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters every Friday until the determination of the matter.
After the defendant was called upon to lead a defence, she called witnesses to testify on her behalf to prove her innocence.
On Thursday, the final witness testified and the matter was adjourned until November 14, 2019 where attorney Nigel Hughes is expected to make his closing remarks.
It was staffers at the Deeds Registry that called upon the Ministry of Legal Affairs to investigate their complaints of alleged financial improprieties committed by Baksh. The complaints were referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters through the then Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum.
According to the Ministry, the Human Resource and Accounting Departments complained that as Head of the Budget Agency and sole person in authority to approve and sign off the payroll of the Deeds and Commercial Registries Authority and one of the main signatories on the Authority’s Bank Account, the Registrar unlawfully paid herself gratuity.
It is alleged that she did this knowing that she was a pensionable employee, having been appointed by the JSC. “Registrar Baksh further unlawfully paid herself a higher salary than was approved by the JSC.”
The Ministry of Legal Affairs stated that the Deeds Registry officers disclosed that these payments started since 2014 and continued up to early 2017.
The Deeds Registry has also laid over with the Ministry of Legal Affairs, documents revealing that Baksh, out of revenue due, owing and payable to the Authority in or around the sum of $8.5M, unlawfully waived the sum of $7M upon the request of an Attorney-at-Law, who paid only the sum of $1.5M.
Baksh is the daughter of Ali Baksh, former Junior Agricultural Minister under the previous administration of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. She has also been a public servant for a number of years.

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