Winston Jordan’s misconduct case: SOCU Prosecutor a no-show

Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan

The Special Organised Crime Unit’s (SOCU) Prosecutor was a no-show in Court on Monday when the former Finance Minister Winston Jordan’s misconduct case was called in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

After the prosecutor failed to make an appearance, Senior Magistrate Leron Daly adjourned the matter to September 14, 2022.

Jordan, who served as Minister under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Coalition, was first arraigned on December 28, 2021, and was not required to plead to the charge. He was released on $3 million bail.

The charge alleged that while being the concerned Minister for the government-owned National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), he, between February 26 and July 31, 2020, at Main Street, Georgetown, willfully misconducted himself by acting recklessly when he signed NICIL (Transfer of Property) Order, No. 50 of 2020.

The Order, which was published in the Official Gazette of Guyana, saw Jordan transferring to and vesting to BK Marine Inc. all buildings, erections, stellings, platforms, and further appurtenances, at Mudlots 1 & 2, F of Mudlot 3, A, B & D.

The cost of the property was valued at over $5 billion, but it was sold for $20,260,276. The Court said this was grossly undervalued to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust without reasonable excuse or justification.

The former Finance Minister is represented by Attorney-at-Law Roysdale Forde, SC, in association with Khemraj Ramjattan, Joseph Harmon, Darren Wade, and Dawn Cush.