Principal of Aaron’s Royality Inc (ARI) Jayson Aaron, who was arrested for questioning on allegations of a cybercrime has been released on $100,000 bail, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday.
Blanhum explained that Aaron was arrested and questioned subsequent to a report made by an official of Guyoil. He said investigators apprehended Aaron on the grounds that he falsified and circulated a series of WhatsApp messages between him and a Guyoil official.
After being released on bail on Monday afternoon, Aaron was required to return to the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday for further questioning, with which he complied.
According to Blanhum, investigations are continuing.
Last Tuesday, Aaron claimed that the company had been left with a large quantity of fuel on hand after a commitment for purchase was made by Guyoil company officials. He claims that he has evidence of the commitments by officials of the company who also tried to solicit kickbacks in return.
The vessel which was said to be carrying ARI’s fuel for Guyoil is reportedly in the custody of the GDF Coast Guard. The vessel reportedly loaded the fuel in Venezuela.
On the same day, Guyoil General Manager Trevor Bassoo notified that he had resigned. The next day, he told this newspaper that it was not he who entered into an agreement with ARI, and he was only made aware of the matter when ARI complained of non-payment. Bassoo, who has welcomed an investigation into the matter, has also said that it was he who alerted the Board regarding the issue. He has insisted that his immediate resignation is unrelated to the situation.
Minister with responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh, who has requested that the Auditor General investigate the alleged irregularities at the entity, reiterated on Friday that if any wrongdoing is found, action will be taken. “We have absolutely no tolerance in this government for any corrupt practices…we would be guided by the results of the Auditor General. I assure you that we will take …action against any parties, who might have been, in the event of any inappropriate practices being identified,” he said.
Auditor General Deodat Sharma on Friday said that his office has received the Minister’s request and is currently planning how the exercise will be executed as it follows a process where documents and other material have to be requested.
Guyoil will have to show who eventually got the contract, when the agreement was entered into, and the sums paid for the fuel. It would also have to explain how the company was selected and what process was used.
Guyana Oil Company Board member Akanni Blair and his party A New and United Guyana (ANUG), have since called for a thorough probe saying it will send a message that not only will graft not be tolerated but that no one is exempt from accountability.
Blair says that it was he who notified the Chairman of the Board Paul Cheong that he learned from ARI that two other company officials were negotiating the supply of fuel; contradicting what Bassoo had said.
Questions have been raised as to how Guyoil officials could even be in contact with ARI when there would be any number of other suppliers that they had long done business with. Moreover, there was also the option of sourcing an emergency shipment from one of the other oil companies based here.
