Winston Jordan questioned by SOCU over sale of Ogle land
Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan was yesterday questioned by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) in relation to the sale of several acres of land at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
This was confirmed by SOCU Head, Senior Superintendent Fazil Karimbaksh, who told Stabroek News that Jordan was released on his own recognizance.
In March last year, former Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) Trevor Benn was charged with misconduct in public office over the lease of land at Ogle.
It is alleged that between 1st January, 2018 and 31st March, 2020, Benn, while being a public officer, willfully misconducted himself by causing the sum of $27,000,000 to be paid by Janico Vide Industrial Engineering Limited for the lease of six (6) acres of land at Plantation Ogle, ECD, knowing at the time that the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission did not have the authority to lease any land at Plantation Ogle, ECD.
A provisional lease was granted on the 27th day of March, 2020, to the company without any description, which is alleged to constitute willful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust, without any excuse reasonable justification.
Benn, 53, who was not required to plead to the charge, was released on $200,000 bail.
Jordan is presently facing a misconduct in public office charge. In December last year, he was charged in relation to the sale of a prime piece of real estate owned by the state below market value to BK Marine Inc.
The charge read that Jordan, being and performing duties of Minister of Finance and being the concerned Minister for the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), a company owned by the Government of Guyana, between February 26, 2020, and Friday, July 31, 2020, at Main Street, Georgetown, willfully misconducted himself by acting recklessly when he signed a Transfer of Property Order, transferring to and vesting to BK Marine Inc. over 2.553 acres at Mudlots 1 & 2, F of Mudlot 3, A, B & D, situated at North Cummingsburg, Georgetown. It is claimed that the property, which is valued at over $5 billion, was sold for $20,260,276, a price that was grossly below the value to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust and without reasonable excuse or justification.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was released on $3 million bail. The charge was instituted by SOCU.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan had set today as the date for the next hearing in the matter during which she is expected to receive submissions from the prosecution and defence on how the court should proceed with the charge.
Jordan’s lawyers are seeking to have the charge pending against him tried in the High Court.