Trade unionist Carvil Duncan yesterday professed his innocence to the charges of stealing almost $1 million and conspiring to steal over $28 million from the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL).
Duncan, 73, of 1977 Williamstaad Street, Festival City, Georgetown, had been charged in January with stealing $984,900, property of GPL and conspiring with Aeshwar Deonarine, former GPL Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Administration) to steal the sum of $27,757,500, also property of GPL Inc, between May 7 and May 8, 2015.
He was not required to plea at his arraignment but offered not guilty pleas to Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday when a decision was taken to have the matters tried summarily. Prosecutor Inspector Neville Jeffers applied for the charges to be dealt with summarily, thereby allowing Duncan to plead not guilty to the two charges.
Meanwhile, according to the prosecutor, Duncan’s co-accused, Deonarine, is still to be arrested and be brought before the court to answer to the charges.
It is alleged that Deonarine had left Guyana since August 3, 2015 for Canada. An arrest warrant was issued for him. According to a police source, help from Interpol has been sought to arrest Deonarine.
The charges against Duncan and Deonarine stem from payments that were made by them to themselves and which were uncovered by a forensic audit that was commissioned after the APNU+AFC government entered office last year. The money allegedly stolen by Duncan represents retroactive payments for his time on the GPL Board.
Duncan had previously told Stabroek News that he was paid fees owed to him for some six years since the company had not paid its board members, during which time they were forced to use their own money for transportation and other expenses.
In relation to Deonarine, the money allegedly stolen represents a retroactive salary hike from for the period January, 2013 to June, 2015, that he transferred to himself and which Patterson said had not been approved by the board.
He allegedly transferred the sum with the help of Duncan, who was one of the signatories to the company’s bank accounts.
Duncan had told this newspaper that he believed the board approved the retroactive payment to Deonarine.
Duncan is, however, expected to be back in court on April 28, for statements.
