Finance Minister committed no breach of criminal law
–will seek further legal advice

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a statement yesterday, noted that Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh, committed no breach of criminal law in the matter involving the alleged illegal spending of monies.“The Police Force is obligated to investigate criminal breaches only and does not conduct investigations into civil breaches nor administrative breaches of the law, save and except those related to the Police (Discipline) Act Chapter 17:01 regarding the conduct of its ranks,” the GPF statement said.
According to the statement, the Force will be seeking further legal advice on the matter.
In a second statement, the GPF clarified that any “purported breach” of any section of the law that may amount to an “administrative breach” and not a criminal breach requires further legal direction.
The Guyana Chronicle contacted Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall, for a comment on the GPF’s position, and he said that he feels “vindicated” by the preliminary findings of the police.
“I feel vindicated by the preliminary findings of the police, that there is no violation of the criminal law. I have so stated from the inception,” he said.
However, the AG cited the GPF’s reference to a possible “administrative breach” of law, describing the reference as puzzling.
“I am a little bewildered, however, by the view expressed that the Minister’s conduct may amount to an ‘administrative breach’ of some law. Quite frankly, I don’t know to what that refers. I know that the police is statutorily empowered and obliged to investigate breaches of the criminal law. I am unaware of any power resident in the Police Force to investigate an ‘administrative breach’ of the law,” Nandlall said.
To this end, he expressed satisfaction that the GPF is seeking further legal advice before proceeding on the matter.
This issue was raised as a result of a complaint from Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan. He filed a complaint with the police last month, charging that the $4.6B that was cut from the 2014 Budget, but restored by the Finance Minister, constituted an illegality.

(Vanessa Narine)