By Tracey Khan – Drakes
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Commissioner of Police (ag), Seelall Persaud says the Guyana Police Force is unsure of how to proceed with the report that was lodged against Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh by Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Khemraj Ramjattan, alleging that he [Singh] illegally spent some $4.5 billion that was disapproved by the National Assembly.
During a telephone interview with iNews today [Tuesday, August 26], Persaud said that the Force is now awaiting advice from the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecution on the way forward on this matter.
Commissioner Persuad also said the Force will be advised as to whether the matter is a criminal or administrative one, however, if it is deemed a criminal case, then the Force will have jurisdiction to investigate, otherwise, it will be out of their hands.
The Commissioner also explained that the crafters of the law made provisions for the Finance Minister to access funds in cases of emergency, however, the State will have to decide on this.
The Force was tasked with investigating whether Finance Minister, along with several Ministry officials, did in fact illegally spend this sum from the nation’s coffers.
Ramjattan had lodged an extensive nine page complaint at the Commissioner’s office as well as with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali- Hack.
Ramjattan in his complaint is adamant that the expenditure constitutes a misusing, a misapplication, or an improper disposal of public monies.
However, Government has stood firmly behind the Finance Minister on this move and continues to contend that it was not an illegal move, since it was pivotal that the disapproved sums be resorted.
Government is hypocrite! How come they charged an APNU member for fraud and nothing is happening to Ashni?