…as SOCU intensifies probes into fraud allegations

FORMER Finance Minister under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Sasenarine Kowlessar, has been placed on $200,000 bail after spending the entire Monday morning at the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) answering fraud related questions, pertaining to his tenure in office.

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed, that SOCU was about to bring fraud charges against the former minister in like manner as former National Industrial & Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) Chief Executive Officer Winston Brassington and Finance Minister Ashni Singh, until the High Court blocked the lower court from hearing the case against the once senior officials.

It was during Kowlessar’s interrogation that SOCU received word that High Court Judge Franklin Holder had granted a stay of proceedings, in respect of the criminal charges pending in the Magistrate’s Court against Singh and Brassington. The two men are charged for misconduct in public office, where they allegedly conducted numerous questionable business transactions on behalf of the state. This newspaper was told by SOCU officials that Kowlessar was Finance Minister before Ashni Singh, and he would have signed numerous orders similar to the transactions done by Singh. The SOCU agent said, “It was thus our intention to charge him but because of the stay granted by the High Court we will have to wait on the Chief Justice.”

SOCU had requested Kowlessar’s presence at the office last week but he failed to show up. The agency said the request was made last Thursday, and on Friday the former minister was still a no show, forcing SOCU agents to engage him on Monday and ensuring his presence at their office. Kowlessar was said to have been at the SOCU’s office answering questions, in his lawyer’s presence, until he was allowed to leave the facility and return with his $200,000 bail sum.

Kowlessar told the Guyana Chronicle that SOCU requested his presence at their office and confirmed that he was placed on $200,000 bail. When asked about his business at the SOCU headquarters, he said it was similar to matters that Ashni Singh and Brassington were involved in. Refusing to go deep, Kowlessar said that his issue was in relation to, “…general matters because I was minister at the time.”

The last time Kowlessar had appeared in the media, it was alleged that he benefitted from a portion of land on the East Bank of Demerara just months before former President Bharrat Jagdeo had demitted office in 2011. An agreement was reportedly signed between the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the CARICOM General Insurance Company, where Kowlessar was named. The former government official was said to have breached the CHPA land agreement after he failed to develop the property and perform infrastructural work, but instead went ahead and sold the house lot.

SOCU officials have however described the recent High Court stay as a “challenge” since it would have an impact on the continuance of their investigation. Further action against Kowlessar has been put on hold. The NICIL CEO and former Finance Minister are being held responsible for selling state property way below the market value and causing the country to lose large sums of money. The three plots of land in question were said to be valued at over $900M. Kowlessar is said to have signed off on similar transactions indicating a

common modus operandi within that former government. The question was then asked whether charges would have to be brought against all ministers or senior officials who were found to be selling state property below cost. The SOCU agent said, “Whether it was a culture or a habit of a minister, ministers, or officials to operate in this manner, it does not mean it is correct. It is still against the law.”