November 19, 2020
Businessman Avalon Jagnandan was yesterday taken into police custody for questioning into his controversial lease for Peters Hall lands after responding to a request to visit the Criminal Investigation Department.
His attorney Glen Hanoman told Stabroek News last evening that Jagnandan remained in police custody as his attempt to seek bail yesterday failed and that he was concerned over his client’s health.
Jagnandan, he said, “suffers from a number of medical issues and complications”. He said that his client was interviewed “for hours” in a room but is not clear whether he had yet given a formal statement.
The Guyana Police Force and its Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) had last week received three files from Attorney General Anil Nandlall for the investigation of leases for several acres of prime state lands at Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara which were done without any valuation, public advertisement or Cabinet decisions.
In Jagnandan’s case, the government alleges that the lease for lands held by Life 1 Pharms, which he heads was transferred to Chinese national Jian Fen Yu for $100. The plots, `A17’, ‘A18’ and ‘A19’ which total 15 acres were assigned to Jian at the same time as businessman Eddie Doolal’s 15 acres of land on the same terms. Their $100 transfer sales were also conducted on the same day.
Jagnandan received the lease for his land in early 2018.
This newspaper had reached out to Jagnandan for comment and he had said, “I am not going to comment at this time”.
In the case of Doolal, he on Tuesday told this newspaper that the transactions for his plots can withstand scrutiny and he believes that he is caught in the middle of a political feud.
Doolal, who said that he was held by police for 72 hours for questioning into the matter, said that he has “cooperated fully with the police and provided adequate information including documents regarding the lease, the sale and assignment.”
He also denied that he sold his lease rights for $100, saying that the investor arrangement he entered into with a partner was to acquire finances to see the project though. Doolal did not say how much the investment capital was.
“I, however, categorically deny being involved in any arrangement or conspiracy to defraud the state. My transaction was above board, and was sanctioned by NICIL,” he said in a statement given to Stabroek News.
“The proceeds arising out of this arrangement is not meant to be used for personal gain but to develop the remaining plot of land so that the company could develop its business. I believe that I am caught in the middle of a political situation and plead with the politicians to keep me out of any political battle,” he added.
Doolal told this newspaper that he had kept his silence because he did not want to be “caught up in a back and forth with the media” on the issue since he believes that the issue was brought to fore because of politics. He said that as a husband, father and businessman, he has been caught up in a situation where he should not be, and he is pleading with authorities to have his name exonerated.
“I am an honest hard-working businessman who have dedicated my entrepreneurial skills to develop businesses that would create better opportunities and improve the life of my fellow Guyanese,” he said.
Further, he added, “This entire matter has caused tremendous damage to my name, my family and businesses. My competitors are now linking this transaction to my other businesses in an effort to tarnish my reputation and integrity.”
