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Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan has been placed on $3M bail over the sale of state lands to BK Marines.
On Tuesday, Jordan was charged with ‘misconduct in public office’ when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
According to the particulars of the offence, the former Finance Minister, who also had oversight over the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), recklessly transferred and vested to BK Marine Inc. all buildings, erections, stellings and platforms on Mudlots 1 & 2, F of Mudlot 3, A, B & D – properties situated at North Cummingsburg.
According to the court documents, BK Marines paid $20.260M for the properties covering 2.553 acres, though valued over $5B. It was noted that the properties were grossly undervalued to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust and without reasonable excuse or justification. The sale and transfer reportedly took place between February 26 and July 31, 2020.
Jordan was arrested by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) on December 2, however, he was rushed to a medical facility after falling ill.
Both the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) had condemned his arrest, contending that the move was politically motivated, and intended to silence Jordan, who has been highly critical of the Irfaan Ali Administration.
“To charge and prosecute a former Minister for taking actions pursuant to a decision(s) of Cabinet is vulgar, abusive, unlawful and unconstitutional, and as the PPP recognised when it withdrew false charges against Dr. George Norton, an individual should not be singled out and persecuted while acting on behalf of the collective of the Constitutional body known as the Cabinet,” the Alliance said in a statement.
