THE Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) says it will not defend anyone being investigated by the Special Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU) who is found culpable of any wrongdoing.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who was at the time addressing reporters at a press conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Church Street, Georgetown on Wednesday.
The Opposition Leader also suggested that the image of the anti-crime unit may have been tainted politically.

Jagdeo made the charge as he tied the recent court appearance of top officials of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) to SOCU’s “political agenda”.
He told reporters that the PPP is unaware of what SOCU’s work currently entails, noting that when the body was established, it was expected to support the Finance Intelligence Unit (FIU) to address anti-money laundering and other matters . He said it was supposed to be the enforcement arm of the FIU.

“But let me make it clear, anytime there is any impartial or fair investigation… that implicate anyone in corrupt activities… they will not be defended by the PPP,” Jagdeo said.
Eight directors of the GBTI were last Monday hauled before the court for failing to comply with a production order issued by acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire.
Their being placed before the courts is as a result of an ongoing SOCU investigation into the US$500M fraud at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB).

GBTI directors Edward A. Beharry, Suresh Beharry, Kathryn Eytle-McLean, Richard Isava, Carlton James and Basil Mahadeo; its chairman, Robin Stoby; and acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shaleeza Shaw were all jointly charged and placed before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Eytle-McLean was charged in absentia, as she is currently out of the country on vacation.
The charge against the directors says that on or before August 29 at Georgetown, they failed to comply with a production order issued by acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire and served by a marshal of the High Court to produce certain named documents, within seven days, to SOCU head, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sydney James.
It is alleged that they contravened the order without reasonable cause.