The attorneys for former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan are seeking to have the misconduct in public office charge pending against him tried in the High Court.
Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan is expected to hear arguments on the issue next month.
On Friday, the Special Organised Crime Unit’s prosecutor, attorney Tuanna Hardy, told the Magistrate that Jordan’s charge could be disposed of summarily via trial before the lower court.
However, Jordan’s legal team has requested that the charge remain indictable. Senior Counsel Roysdale Force is representing him in association with attorneys Khemraj Ramjattan, Joseph Harmon, and Darren Wade.
It is alleged that Jordan, being and performing duties of Minister of Finance and being the concerned Minister for the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), a company owned by the Government of Guyana, between February 26, 2020, and Friday, July 31, 2020, at Main Street, Georgetown, willfully misconducted himself by acting recklessly when he signed a Transfer of Property Order, transferring to and vesting to BK Marine Inc. over 2.553 acres at Mudlots 1 & 2, F of Mudlot 3, A, B & D, situated at North Cummingsburg, Georgetown. It is claimed that the property, which is valued at over GY$5 billion, was sold for GY$20,260,276, a price that was grossly undervalued to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust and without reasonable excuse or justification.
Jordan was not required to plead to the indictable charge when it was read to him on December 28, 2021. He was released on $3 million bail. The charge was instituted against him by SOCU.
Chief Magistrate McLennan fixed April 29 for the next hearing, when she will receive submissions from the prosecution and defence on how the court should proceed with the charge.
