SOCU converted into PNC outfit to witch-hunt PPP officials – Jagdeo

Recent news about the intentions of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to have two former senior functionaries, one a minister of the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government taken in for questioning in connection with the findings of a forensic audit into the management of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has not gone unnoticed by the Opposition.

In fact, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday claimed that SOCU has now been converted into a People’s National Congress (PNC) outfit with its main objective to carry out witch-hunts.
The former Head of state defended former NICIL head Winston Brassington and former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, who SOCU said it was actively seeking to question.
“It (SOCU) has been created to go after PPP officials; not drug dealers, not money launderers, not anyone else but to go after PPP people. So, we will continue to oppose the witch-hunt,” Jagdeo declared.
Asked whether he thinks that Brassington or Dr Singh should return, the Opposition Leader said it was unfair to both men to put their lives on pause just to be questioned by the Police.
Jagdeo also argued that Government’s action in this regard has been blatant, referring to examples where members of the Government called out members of the Opposition in Parliament, warning them to look out for SOCU. He, therefore, reminded that Ministers had no line responsibility for SOCU.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, who has been dragged to the courts by Government, informed the media that he was told by senior SOCU officials that they have acquired another search warrant to seize laws books belonging to Government.
But Nandlall said this move would mean that the Police were flouting a court order which prohibits SOCU from seizing these books. Nandlall has already been charged with larceny in connection with 15 LexisNexis Law Reports of the Commonwealth that were bought by the State for Nandlall’s own use.
In late April, the Supreme Court of Judicature issued a Conservatory Order, preventing the State and SOCU from seizing the law books. The order was issued by Chief Justice Dawn Gregory.
Nandlall had previously stated that the purchase and subsequent acquisition of those documents were authorised by former President Donald Ramotar. The documents which were bought between 2012 and 2015 cost the Government over $2.8 million and were still in the care of the former AG.
SOCU had obtained a search warrant to retrieve the law reports, but was unable to locate them, since they were locked up in a house owned by Nandlall that was being rented and it was reported then that the tenants were overseas and were in possession of the house keys.
The Legal Affairs Ministry had contended that there was no evidence of an agreement between Nandlall and former President Donald Ramotar for the purchase of the law books as part of the former’s contract and even assuming that there was such an agreement, the use of public funds in this manner is against the Financial Management and Accountability Act.
It was only recently that Nandlall sued the current Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams for $125 million for what he saw as libellous and slanderous claims in relation to the said law reports.