The charges filed by the Special Organized Crime Crime Unit (SOCU) under the former Government against Finance Minister Ashni Singh and Head of the Gas-to-Shore Taskforce Winston Brassington were withdrawn today.
When the matter was called before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, SOUC’s Prosecutors explained that they wish not to proceed with the charges against the duo. Bail was granted in the sum of $2 million each on the three joint charges for misconduct in public office.
Together, the two men are accused of selling 10.002 acres, 4.7 acres and 103 acres of State lands without first obtaining a valuation, as well as selling the lands way below the price it was valued at by a competent valuation officer. The offences were allegedly committed during 2008, 2009, and 2011.
In fact, the charges’ withdrawal comes weeks after Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire had ruled that the charges should be tried in the Magistrate’s Court.
Following the CJ’s judgment, Brassington and Dr Singh moved to the High Court, challenging the validity of the charges initiated against them by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
