Glenn Lall terrified of audit – Government

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

Duty-free scam

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall is running scared of an impending audit of his business by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Donald Ramotar Administration said in a statement Sunday night.

The statement added that in recent months, in anticipation of the GRA audit, which is a statutory obligation of the Agency carried out on a routine basis on taxpayers, KN has resorted to fabrication, hacking of email exchanges purported between Attorney General Anil Nandlall and GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur.

The state audit was prompted by a series of alleged shady practices by Lall none more glaring than the importation of two luxury vehicles through a US-based couple under the remigrant scheme. Lall; his wife, Bhena; and the couple are currently jointly charged with knowingly committing fraudulent evasion of import duties.

The charge stated that between June 18, 2013 and September 21, 2013, together with others unknown at Lot 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown, they knowingly aided and abetted each other, in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of customs due and payable to the Revenue Authority on two Lexus LX 570 motor vehicles with engine capacity 5700 cc, and chassis numbers JTJHY7AX6 D4094851 and JTJHY7AX6 D4096745.

The Lalls are charged jointly with two counts of knowingly dealt with goods with intent to defraud the Revenue Authority of duties on the said motor vehicle. The particulars of the offence read that between June 18, 2013 and August 30, 2014, at Lot 110 Regent Street, Georgetown, they knowingly dealt with goods with intent to defraud the Revenue Authority of duties on the two vehicles.

Aggravated

Government said that as a result of criminal charges filed against Lall, the GRA Commissioner General and the Attorney General became the subject of Kaieteur News’ attacks. “As a result, these high-ranking officials were forced to seek legal protection from the court. Both obtained injunctions, but in vain, as the attacks persisted. Both have filed contempt of court proceedings. Yet, rather than the attacks ceasing, they have been aggravated.”

Meanwhile, an overseas-based Guyanese businessman – George Correia – has blasted Lall and his Editor, Adam Harris, for their continued attacks on Nandlall in an attempt to paint the official in a bad light. This comes after Lall filed an official Police complaint with Deputy Police Commissioner Balram Persaud in which he accused the Attorney General of being aware of a plot to destroy him and his newspaper. Lall, in his short statement to the Police, claimed that he would have received several warnings of the imminent danger that clouds his life and also extends to the numerous staff at his Saffon Street media house.

“It’s totally unfair to hold the nation ransom with some of these fly-by-newspapers, who are putting big things about him and trying to muddy up the stage that this man is walking on,” Correia said in a recent statement.

He added that he would like to see the Kaieteur News put an end to the rhetoric and try to place emphasis on the bigger battles of humanity. “When they were good with some minister and getting their way, nothing was wrong, and just because the breeze blowing another way, they are angered”,” emphasised the businessman. The man also called on the Opposition political parties – A Partnership for National Unity and the Alliance For Change to stop silently condoning the actions of the Kaieteur Newspaper.