Government on Friday announced the termination of embattled Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP), Omar Shariff, who had found himself in the midst of criminal investigations last year.
A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency states, “The services of Mr Omar Shariff as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency (MOTP) have been terminated as of December 31, 2016.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry also announced the appointment of his replacement. Effective January 3, 2017, Abena Moore was appointed to the position of substantive Permanent Secretary.
Moore, a former Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Communities Ministry, was acting PS at the MOTP after Shariff was sent on leave by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon back in June last year, pending an investigation by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force into several bank accounts that carried his name and the names of persons who worked close to him.
Investigations
In a letter to Shariff, Minister Harmon had stated that he was to proceed on leave in order for him to cooperate fully with SOCU in the matter. “This is [a] money-laundering and tax-evasion matter, since it’s large sums of money that he has in his personal accounts,” Harmon had said.
Head of SOCU, Sydney James, had subsequently indicated that Shariff was being investigated for money laundering and tax evasion since it was discovered that he has several billions of dollars in a number of accounts at local banks.
However, Shariff always maintained his innocence in the matter and stated that he did no wrong. He chose to remain silent amid all accusations against him, but he later broke that silence and issued a statement on the matter.
In the press statement, Shariff said, “After consultation with my Attorney, I have been advised that it is now appropriate and has become necessary for me to address the false and unsubstantiated allegations and imputations being published by the electronic, broadcast and print media.”
He vehemently denied all allegations, stating that he has not been involved by himself or in collision with others in any theft or embezzlement of public funds.
Shariff explained that in no way was he ever involved in money laundering or tax evasion, and called for sections of the media to “to practice the tenets of fair, impartial, balanced and responsible journalism as they exercise their right to follow up this matter”.
It was reported that the Permanent Secretary had over $10 billion in several accounts at local banks which was deposited over a five-year period. However, Shariff had claimed that he rakes in almost $100 million a year from his business for the past seven years. In addition, there was no evidence that taxes were paid for the past eight years.
His lawyer at the time, Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, had told this newspaper that the issue is more or less personal and has to do with his client not filing his income tax returns for a number of years. He further explained that his client and the relevant authorities have been in discussions in resolving the matter.
High Court proceedings
Meanwhile, Shariff, along with his reputed wife Sabita Arjune, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to answer to charges filed against her by SOCU, however the arraignment was halted.
Moments before the presiding Magistrate read the charges to the MOTP Permanent Secretary, she was informed by the Prosecution, comprising of Special Prosecutor Patrice Henry and SOCU’s officer Robert Tyndall that an order was made by the Chief Justice in the High Court.
It was unclear as to what that order was, but the defence team in the matter and the prosecution had an agreement to have the matter first brought before the Chief Justice, and then the sitting Magistrate on Monday.
Shariff, who was a candidate for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) at the last elections, remained as Permanent Secretary of the Presidential Secretariat even after a new government took office.
