SENIOR MAGISTRATE Leron Daly was on Thursday designated to preside over the case of former Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who is accused of misconduct in public office.

Previously, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus had recused themselves from presiding over the matter which resulted in it being reassigned.

The Guyana Chronicle had reported previously that the magistrates recused themselves from the case since they both were familiar with some of the lawyers involved in the matter.

During Thursday’s hearing, the chief magistrate reassigned the matter to Senior Magistrate Daly for August 29.

Jordan is currently on $3 million bail.

The former Finance Minister is represented by fellow coalition party members, attorneys-at-law Roysdale Forde S.C., Khemraj Ramjattan, Dawn Cush, Joseph Harmon, and Darren Wade.

Previously, Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) prosecutor, Tuanna Hardy, had requested that the accused be tried summarily in the Magistrates’ Court.

However, Jordan’s lawyers raised strong objections, emphasising their preference for a trial by jury in the High Court.

If this were to happen, the matter heard in the Magistrates’ Court would be the subject of a Preliminary Inquiry (PI).

Once the magistrate finds that a case has been made, it would then be referred to the High Court for trial by a judge and jury.
Jordan’s lawyers have not made their submissions as yet.

Winston Jordan first appeared in court to respond to this matter on December 28, 2021. He was not required to plead.

It was alleged then that while he served as Finance Minister under the APNU+AFC coalition government, Jordan wilfully misconducted himself by acting recklessly when he signed NICIL (Transfer of Property) Order, No. 50 of 2020.

NICIL, the government’s privatisation unit, fell under Jordan’s ministerial portfolio.

The substantive matter was Jordan’s transferring to and vesting to BK Marine Inc., all buildings, erections, stellings, platforms and further appurtenances, at Mud Lots One and Two, F of Mud Lot Three, A, B & D, being over 2.553 acres.

In that transaction, it was reported that $20,260,276 was paid for a property initially valued at over $5,000,000,000.

The selling price was reportedly grossly below the actual value of the assets sold. This, the court heard from the prosecution, amounted to an abuse of the public’s trust without reasonable excuse or justification.