Following Tuesday’s arrest of former Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Roger Luncheon more serving Members of Parliament and former cabinet members of the opposition People’s Progressive Party were Wednesday questioned by officials of the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU).
This morning former Ministers Priya Manickchand and Clement Rohee were seen entering the compound at SOCU Headquarters.
Already SOCU has questioned Dr. Luncheon, Former President Bharrat Jagdeo, and former Ministers Robert Persaud, Irfaan Ali, Shaik Baksh, Samuel Hinds and Nanda Gopaul.
Manickchand spoke to the media briefly and said while she cannot recall the exact amount she bought the land for, she was certain that she complied with all legal procedures.
She admitted to buying, developing and then selling her plot of land.
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.
Manickchand did not provide details on the questioning by SOCU officials but hinted that it was vague. “You are asking me more than they asked,” she told one reporter.
The audit 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.
The former government and cabinet members are accused of fraudulently acquiring state assets.