While confirming that Attorney-at-Law and People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Member, James Bond was arrested in relation to an ongoing land transaction investigation, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has denied that Bond was offered the option of a lie detector test to clear his name.
After being called in for questioning at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and subsequently arrested on Tuesday, Bond posted two updates on his social media which stated: “I’ve been taken into police custody for questioning at CID Headquarters. I’ve been asked to take a lie detector test surrounding the allegations made against me by Mr. Eddie Doolall and Mr. Avlon Jagnanan… I’m still in police custody and am being kept for 72 hours at Brickdam Police Station. I will not request bail, because I have nothing to hide. I am ready and willing to do a lie detector test to prove my innocence, but I am still to be provided with the opportunity to do so.”
However, in a press statement later that day, the GPF denied offering Bond the option of taking a polygraph test. “At this time the Guyana Police Force can confirm the following: Mr. Bond was arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation; Mr. Bond is in custody; but at no time was Mr. Bond asked to submit to a polygraph test or as described by the post, a ‘lie detector test’. Further, the Force has no intention to make any such request,” the GPF stated.
There are allegations that Bond, among others, benefitted from the sale of State lands at Peter Hall which were transferred to Chinese national, Jianfen Yu, the sub-lessee.
The lands were leased from National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and later transferred or sublet. However, former head of the Special Purpose Unit (SPU), Colvin Heath-London, who has also been questioned by the police, has put forward evidence to show that the Board of NICIL had approved the land transactions.
The sub-letting was reportedly made possible following a 2018 Board decision under the leadership of NICIL’s former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Horace James. It was decided that lease transactions should be amended to facilitate sub-letting to create a more competitive platform. It was also decided that Industrial Parks Lease Transactions be formulated immediately for the Peter’s Hall area and areas such as Berbice and Demerara were also slated as possible industrial park developments sites to be commissioned.
The information provided by Heath-London included an invoice issued by NICIL for rent addressed to Jianfen Yu (sub-lessee) for the rental of plots A 17, A 18 and A 19 for 2020. It also included the receipt issued by NICIL to Jianfen Yu for the payment of the rental by the sub-lessee for the aforementioned properties.
Both documents bear the logo of NICIL and the invoice was prepared and signed by Account Receivable Clerk, Wenston Mingo and reviewed, checked and signed by Finance Controller, Geary Reid. However, the police are still continuing their investigation.
Others involved include Life 1 Pharms Inc. Director, Avalon Jagnandan and Director of A-Z Pharmaceuticals Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc., Eddie Doolal, the initial lessees of the lands in 2018 which were transferred to Jianfen Yu in 2020. They have also been questioned by the police.
