MINISTER of State, Joseph Harmon has reminded that the former administration was the architect of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the agency is simply doing the work it was created to do.

“It is not something that we created,” Harmon pointed out, when approached by reporters at the Savannah Suite of Pegasus Hotel.

“SOCU was established by the previous administration, it was particularly organised by Dr. [Roger] Luncheon, in reaction or response to our responsibility under the anti-money laundering and countering the financial of terrorism legislation. So they [SOCU] are doing the work that they were created to do.”

On Tuesday, several top officials of the Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP), including Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo and former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon were held by SOCU after they earlier this week refused to come in for questioning over acquisition of prime ocean front lands at “Pradoville 2” for prices fixed below market value.

Also detained were former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud and General Manager of the Gold Board, Lisaveta Ramotar, who is the daughter of former President Donald Ramotar.

Several other persons, including private sector executive Ramesh Dookhoo, Marcia Nadir-Sharma and Ghansham Singh–son of former Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul – also showed up at SOCU’s Camp Street office, as they too were wanted for questioning.

They were all released after hours of interrogation. Jagdeo said the detentions were a matter of “political vendetta” and that “SOCU has been receiving instructions from the political directorate”.

However, the Government in a statement denied the claims, insisting that SOCU remains independent.

Labelling the accusation “absurd”, Harmon echoed that the Government has not interfered in the work of the anti-crime unit.

“That’s an absurd suggestion,” replied Harmon to the comment. “I don’t know what he [Bharrat Jagdeo] is talking about, about political vendetta. SOCU is an arm of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and they carry out their functions under the laws of Guyana. And therefore, it is their duty to carry out their work in a professional manner and I can assure you there has been no intervention on the part of this administration to influence the work of SOCU.”