After being held for two days in police custody, former Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC) Trevor Benn was charged on Friday with misconduct in public office over the lease of land at Ogle.
Benn, 53, was arraigned before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly in a Georgetown court where the indictable charge was read to him. He was not required to enter a plea and was later granted his release on $200,000 bail.
It is alleged that between the 1st day of January, 2018, and the 31st day of March, 2020, at the Lands and Survey Commission, in Georgetown, while being a Public Officer, that is to say, the Commissioner of Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, he willfully misconducted himself by causing the sum of $27,000,000 to be paid by Janico Vide Industrial Engineering Limited for the lease of six acres of land at Plantation Ogle, East Coast Demerara, although knowing at the time that the GL&SC did not have the authority to lease any land at the location.
A provisional lease was granted on the 27th day of March, 2020, to Janico Vide Industrial Engineering Limited without any description, which according to the particulars of the charge constitutes willful misconduct amounting to a breach of the public’s trust, without any excuse reasonable justification.
Benn, who was represented by attorney Mark Waldron, was advised to return to court on 31 March, when a report on whether the matter will be dealt with summarily or indictably would be given to the court.
Benn was arrested by police on Wednesday and questioned in relation to the accusation that he induced persons to lease the land at Ogle by false pretense, knowing that it is owned by the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL). Police had indicated that he would be questioned on other matters after being held.
In a statement on Thursday, the APNU+AFC, which called for Benn’s release, said that a “clear trend” has developed whereby charges are being “trumped up” against Afro-Guyanese professionals, “knowing fully well” that there is no case against them.
“The PPP [People’s Progressive Party] however seems to derive a twisted sense of pleasure from incarcerating innocent people for seventy-two hours, occasioning the most egregious abuses of our legal processes and making a mockery of entire legal system,” the statement said.
The coalition stated that it is an “established” fact that Benn did not “personally” benefit from the sale of any land.
“All monies paid for lands were paid into the State’s coffers. These monies are now being unconscionably squandered by the PPP regime as they engage in reckless and irresponsible spending. In an effort to divert attention from their squandermania and to continue their campaign of persecuting Afro-Guyanese public servants they have now arrested Mr. Benn on spurious and completely trumped up charges,” the statement added.
APNU+AFC further stated that the “continued” harassment of Afro-Guyanese professionals as well as supporters of the APNU+AFC is inimical to good governance and will further exacerbate racial and political tensions.
Just days ago, the government filed court action to have lands sold to Car Care Enterprise owner Wilfred Brandford repossessed. Benn and former Ministry of Finance Valuator Julian Barrington were also sued for in excess of $100 million each for their roles in the transaction.
On August 7th last year, the government had announced that all public land deals made by the APNU+AFC administration from December 21st, 2018, would be reviewed. During September last year, Benn was instructed to proceed on 42 days’ vacation.
Subsequent to that, Benn was terminated from the post with effect from February 4th, 2021. He received his termination letter in November 2020, which gave him three months’ notice.