James Bond, businessmen granted bail on conspiracy to defraud charges

Shady NICIL land deals

…former NICIL Head also charged, no-show at court

Former Executive Member of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R), Attorney-at-law James Bond, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Thursday to answer a charge of conspiracy to defraud the State – in connection with leasing state lands at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Former Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Colvin Heath-London, has also been similarly charged, but in absentia, since he is out of the jurisdiction.
Also similarly charged were: Director of the A-Z Pharmaceuticals Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc, Eddie Doolal, and Principal of the Arken Group Inc, Jermaine Richmond.
None of these defendants was required to plead to the indictable charges read to them.

The Police have stated that between August 1, 2017 and November 30, 2020, at Georgetown, Heath-London and Bond conspired together and with others to defraud NICIL, its sole shareholders and the Government of property interest in land; namely, the grant of a lease of land known as Plot A17, A18, A19 Plantation Peters Hall, EBD, owned by the said NICIL, without the necessary board and Cabinet approval to do same, and for purposes other than that of NICIL.

It has also been alleged that Heath-London, Bond, and Doolal, between August 1, 2017 and November 30, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired together and with others to defraud NICIL, its sole shareholders and the Government of property interest in land; namely, the grant of a lease of land known as Plot A7, A8, A20 Plantation Peters Hall, EBD, owned by the said NICIL, without the necessary board and Cabinet approval to do same, and for purposes other than that of NICIL.
The final charge stated that Bond, Heath-London, and Richmond, between August 1, 2017 and November 30, 2020, at Georgetown, conspired together and with others to defraud NICIL, its sole shareholders, and the Government of property interest in land; namely, the grant of a lease of land known as plot A1, A2, A3, A4 Plantation Peters Hall, East Bank, Demerara, owned by the said NICIL, without the necessary board and Cabinet approval to do same, and for purposes other than that of NICIL.
Bond was placed on bail in the sum of $150,000, while Richmond and Doolal were each ordered to post $100,000 bail. The men will make their next court appearance on April 19, 2021.

Bond was represented by Attorneys-at-law Darren Wade and Patrice Henry.
Bond is the lawyer who had represented three companies that are at the centre of the Peter’s Hall land investigation – Life 1 Pharms Incorporated, A-Z Pharmaceutical Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc, and Arken Group – in the drafting of leases by NICIL for the lands.
Shortly after the PPP/C assumed Government in August 2020, a thorough probe was conducted by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SPCU) in the matter, and it was revealed that several irregularities had occurred.
During the investigations, Bond and his co-accused were questioned. The principals of the company reportedly told the Police that Bond arranged the sale of the lands, after which he found a buyer and was paid.
It is being alleged that Bond received some $60 million from each of them.
The leases were controversial since they were in contravention of the stipulations regarding the disposal of State lands, which stipulate that when State lands are leased, the lease must state that the lessee must not part with possession of the land without the consent of the State.
However, in this case, both Life 1 Pharms Incorporated and A-Z Pharmaceutical Medical Supplies and Equipment Inc – which each leased 15 acres of land from NICIL at an annual rate of US$11,700 – flipped those lands to a Chinese national for just $100.
In the case of Arken Group, the proprietor of that company leased 20.8 acres of land for an annual fee of US$16,224, and had his address listed as the same as Bond’s. It was revealed that Bond then received US$1 million for the property after it was flipped to a local oil and gas company.