Officials of the Special Organized Crime United on Tuesday arrested former Cabinet Secretary under the People’s Progressive Party Government, Dr. Roger Luncheon for alleged misappropriation of state assets.
The arrest was made at the Leader of the Opposition Office in the presence of several PPP members including former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar.
The arrest came one day after PPP MPs and other former cabinet members refused to be questioned at SOCU Headquarters. The PPP in turning down the invitation said its members would prefer to be questioned at the Leader of the Opposition Office.
Jagdeo told media operatives that Dr. Luncheon’s arrest is a witch hunt that is intended to break the spirit of the PPP.
SOCU had invited the PPP members to its headquarters for questioning as the probe into the Pradoville 2 land deal widens.
Persons who acquired housing lots in the at Pradoville 2 include former President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Ministers Priya Manickhand, Clement Rohee, Robert Persaud, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, Shaik Baksh and Jennifer Westford along with former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon.
Former Army Chief, retired Commodore Gary Best and Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali Hack along with several other prominent figures also accepted lands in the area and were also invited for questioning.
They have not objected.
SOCU began its investigation after a forensic audit into the land deal, found that the recipients underpaid for the lands by more than $250 million.
The audit report also pointed to the subsequent sale of the lots acquired by Priya Manickchand and Robert Persaud for $100M and $90M respectively.
The report noted that in 2010, the PPP government, through the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), also spent more than $200M to develop the sea side area.