One year after Chief Justice, Roxanne George granted a stay of proceedings into the Misconduct in Public Office charges against Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and former Head of National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, the matter was once again called in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
This morning when the matter came up before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, the orderly called out the defendants’ name thrice. There was no answer.
The Magistrate then inquired from the defendants’ lawyer as to why they are absent and the lawyer told the court that a stay was granted by the High Court.
Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) Prosecutor, Patrice Henry then informed the court that the Chief Justice has not yet rule on whether the offence is sustainable in the Magistrates’ Courts.
Hence, the Magistrate adjourned the matter until March 6, 2020 to facilitate the ruling.
The duo are jointly charged with the common law offence of Misconduct in Public Office.
This is in connection to the selling of Queens Atlantic Investment Inc., and Sanata Textiles Complex which is valued at $1, 042, 403, 500.
The most recent charge against Singh and Brassington is in connection with wrongdoings in the Sanata Textiles deal with Queens Atlantic Investment Inc. They are jointly charged.
It is alleged that Dr. Ashni Singh, being and performing duties of Minister of Finance, and Chairman of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, a company owned by the Government; and Brassington, being and performing duties as the Chief Executive Officer of NICIL, a company owned by the Government, between October 26, 2010 and December 20, 2010 at Lot 126 Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown, by way of Agreement of Sale and Purchase, acted recklessly when they sold to Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, Sanata Texiles Complex, with building and erections thereon, that is to say, Parcel 4702, Part of Plantation Ruimveldt, situated on the East Bank Demerara, being 18.871 acres, at $697,864,800.00 plus VAT, knowing that the said property was valued at the sum of $1,042,403,500.00, and was therefore being sold at a price that was grossly undervalued, thereby creating a breach of their duties.
In the meantime, Singh and Brassington are out on $6M bail each in relation to those three charges.
