PUBLISHER of Kaieteur News, Mohan Lall, commonly called Glen Lall, has been summoned to appear at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court today over an alleged verbal threat he made to the Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Khurshid Sattaur.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) completed its probe into the matter in late October. The file was initially sent to the DPP’s Chambers on October 14 and was returned to the Crime Chief on October 15, who returned it to DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack for her recommendations.
The investigation followed a complaint made by the GRA Commissioner-General, who had lodged a formal complaint at the Brickdam Police Station, regarding an alleged threat from Lall.

TELEPHONE CALL
The alleged threats to the GRA Head were made in late August when two vehicles used by Lall and his wife and alleged to be part of a remigrant duty-free scam were impounded by the Authority.
At the time Sattaur had disclosed that he received a telephone call from a person “whose voice I recognised as Mr. Glen Lall” and was threatened.
He said, “Lall called me from an overseas number and threatened to expose me; he threatened to deal with me in a matter, as if I’m a thief and he’s going to do this thing, because I am using my office to deal with the matters I normally deal with.
“He threatened to use his newspaper to expose me; I don’t know what wrong I am doing. If I am trying to do the Government’s work…I don’t know why people should be upset, if they are doing wrong things, they should be subject to the laws as well.”
According to Sattaur such action, making of threats, are unconscionable.
“I am not acting vindictively. I am doing my work. Mr. Lall is not excluded from paying taxes,” the GRA Commissioner-General said.
The two vehicles in question, PRR 8398 and PRR 8399, which were handed over to GRA and impounded at the Authority’s warehouse, followed an hour’s-long stand-off between GRA officials and Navin Sankar, a high-ranking GRA employee.
Six criminal charges altogether have since been filed against Lall, his wife, Bhena and Sankar’s parents, Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, who have all been implicated in the scam. Lall and his wife have since been arraigned on four of the six charges.
The charges followed an investigation, which was launched to ensure that procedures and policy, as well as the provisions of the law were adhered to.
SECOND COURT APPEARANCE
Lall and his wife have been arraigned and are expected to appear before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, for the second time today also, to answer charges that relate to defrauding the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) of duties.
The filing of the charges followed the disclosure of details of an alleged duty-free scam which were made public by the Guyana Chronicle after a close examination of the Government of Guyana’s review of the Remigrant Scheme.
The couple, who reside at Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara, denied the charges that were read to them by Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
The defence was represented by high-profile lawyers, some of whom are also prominent politicians. The list of lawyers include, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Senior Counsel Rex McKay, Nigel Hughes, Christopher Ram, Joseph Harmon, Brendan Glasford, Bettina Glassford and Robin Hunte.
In their first appearance in court four charges were read to Lall and his wife. They state that:
* The two parties were knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of Customs on vehicle PRR 8398, contrary to Section 218(e) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.
* The two parties were knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of Customs on vehicle PRR 8399, contrary to Section 218(e) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.
* Glen Lall and Bhena Lall knowingly dealt with goods with intent to defraud the revenue of duties thereon to wit one (1) Lexus LX 570 Motor Vehicle, registration number PRR 8398, with engine capacity 5700 cc, Chassis No. JTJHY7AX6 D4094851, contrary to Section 218(d) of the Customs Act Chapter 82:01
* Glen Lall and Bhena Lall, knowingly dealt with goods with intent to defraud the revenue of duties thereon to wit one (1) Lexus LX 570 motor vehicle, registration number PRR 8399, with engine capacity 5700 cc, Chassis No. JTJHY7AX6 D4094851, contrary to Section 218(d) of the Customs Act Chapter 82:01.
Defence counsel, Ramjattan requested that his clients be released on their own recognizance, which is self-bail and this was granted.
Representing the prosecution were attorneys-at-law, Mahendra Satram and Sandil Kissoon.
Additionally, the other two parties involved in the alleged duty-free scam, Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, did not appear to answer the charges against them.
The charges against the two remigrants state that:
* The two parties were knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of Customs on vehicle PRR 8398, contrary to Section 218(e) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.
* The two parties were knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of Customs on vehicle PRR 8399, contrary to Section 218(e) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01.
* Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan did make and subscribe to a false declaration in a matter relating to the Customs, contrary to Section 217(1) (a) of the Customs Act Chapter 82:01, involving a vehicle PRR 8398
* Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan did make and subscribe to a false declaration in a matter relating to the Customs, contrary to Section 217(1)(a) of the Customs Act Chapter 82:01, involving a vehicle PRR 8399.
The lawyers representing Glen and Bhena Lall are expected to be the same group of lawyers representing the Brijnanans. Altogether, six criminal charges were filed against Lall and the Brijnanans.