Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) James Bond has been arrested for questioning in relation to the land giveaways under the former APNU/AFC Coalition.
This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.
Bond has been fingered by at least two businessmen as being the person who arranged all the deals and pocketed most of the profits.
Several plots of State land were leased by individuals and then resold, resulting in huge profits.
This has particularly been the case on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).
Police have already questioned two businessmen, Eddie Doolal and Avalon Jagnanan, regarding the transactions.
It was revealed last month that Life 1 Pharms Incorporated, which Jagnandan heads, leased a total of 15 acres of land at Peters Hall, EBD, for the sum of US$11,700. This land, referred to as plots “A17”, “A18” and “A19” was subsequently transferred to one individual for $100.
Similarly, A-Z Pharmaceuticals also leased three plots of land at Peters Hall for US$11,700 a year from NICIL. The company then transferred the land to the same individual for a mere $100. Police had detained and subsequently released Doolall, the principal for A-Z Pharmaceuticals, last week.
Equally striking is that both men, in their statements to Police, implicated Bond as the person who arranged the sale of the lands. Both men have similar stories of being told by Bond to apply to NICIL for the land, after which a buyer was found by the former Member of Parliament.
Last month, Bond was named as the recipient of US$1 million in payments for 20.8 acres of flipped State lands at Peters Hall.
