Attorney-at-Law and People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) Member, James Bond has denied accusations that he received payment from two businessmen for underhand land transactions.
According to the police, Life 1 Pharms Inc. Director, Avalon Jagnandan and Director of A-Z Pharmaceuticals Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc., Eddie Doolall have singled out Bond as the author behind the sale of some 30 acres of land which was transferred to Chinese national, Jianfen Yu, the sub-lessee.
The businessmen have reportedly stated that Bond was paid a large sum to facilitate the transaction. However, on Thursday, Bond — who was called in for questioning and subsequently arrested — denied these claims stating that they could easily being discredited.
“Eddie Doolall and Avalon Jagnandan have told some unbelievable untruths and have clearly succumbed to political pressure and greed. I think I’ve grown accustomed to betrayal by these Judas types. The most stupid lie is that they each paid me 60,000,000. In Avalon Jagnandan’s case, that he requested a receipt and I refused. Further he paid these monies at a lawyer’s office. Of course, these lies could be easily refuted and I have told the police how they could refute them,” Bond said.
The lands in question 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. The information provided by to back this 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.
However, the businessmen claim that Bond was involved in illegality. They reportedly told the police that they provided Bond with letters of interest to take into NICIL since 2017 but the transaction was not done until January 2020.
“What force could make men I have made rich trade in their loyalty at an instant? Their lying statements amount to nothing. I will be vindicated. I know they intend to charge myself and Mr. London and use these Judases as witnesses. But I will prevail. Thank you for your support. It means a lot to myself and family,” Bond said.
