Re-migrant couple Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, who have been jointly charged with tax evasion charges with Kaieteur News publisher Glenn Lall and his wife Bhena Lall, were yesterday both released on self-bail after being arraigned at the George-town Magistrates’ Courts.

The Brijnanans were arraigned on a total of four charges, two of which they share with the Lalls, although Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) prosecutor Sandil Kissoon yesterday said talks are underway that could possibly see an amicable resolution to the matters.

Of the charges levelled against the Brijnanans, two counts were for “knowingly being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of Customs” and two counts were for “making false declarations.”

The first two offences were allegedly committed by the Lalls jointly with the Brijnanans and others unknown between June 18, 2013 and September 21, 2013, at Lot 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown, where they allegedly knowingly concerned, aided and abetted each other in the fraudulent evasion of the import duties of customs due and payable to the Revenue Authority on the two vehicles.

Gharbassi Brijnanan

Narootandeo Brijnanan

These charges allege that between June 18 and September 21, 2013, the Brijnanans, together with others unknown, at Lot 200-201 Camp Street, Georgetown, knowingly concerned, aided and abetted each other in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of customs due and payable to the revenue authority on the two vehicles.

The second two offences, levelled against the Brijnanans only, state that between June 18 and September 20, 2013, at Lot 200-201 Camp Street, they made a false declaration in a matter relating to customs, by falsely declaring the value of two Lexus LX 570 vehicles to be $44,158 US.

The defendants denied the charges when they were read to them by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Defence attorney Robin Hunte, in an application for self-bail, asked the court to consider that his clients had not been served with summons, but attended court yesterday since they knew they were required to. He highlighted that they are senior citizens who re-migrated to Guyana in 2013 and live with their son.

According to counsel, more recently, his clients travelled abroad seeking medical attention and returned to Guyana last December.

GRA prosecutor Kissoon had no objections and confirmed Hunte’s statement that the defendants indeed did not have to be served with summons for attendance at yesterday’s hearing.

He also took the opportunity to inform the court of ongoing talks to reach an amicable solution. As a result, February 6 was set as the next date for reports on what will be the status of the proceedings thereafter.

The Lalls, who were also present at yesterday’s hearing, were arraigned on October 14 last year and released on self-bail as well.

Glenn and Bhena Lall

In addition to the offence for which they were jointly-charged with the Brijnanans, a further charge against the two of them alleges that between June 18, 2013, and August 30 of 2014, at 24 Saffon Street, Georgetown, they knowingly dealt with goods, with intent to defraud the revenue of duties on the two vehicles.

The authorities have said that the charges stem from a wider investigation, which was prompted by the sudden appearance of an unusual number of luxury vehicles. However, Glenn Lall has maintained that the charges are an attempt by GRA to persecute him and his newspaper as a result of its exposures of government wrongdoing and corruption.

The Brijnanans became the focus of an investigation after it was reported that the Lalls were using two Lexus vehicles that they imported into the country under the re-migrant scheme. As a result of the duty-free concessions granted to them, they were not required to pay the more than $100 million in duties on the luxury vehicles.

The defendants are represented by Khemraj Ramjattan in association with Hunte and a barrage of other lawyers, including Senior Counsel Rex McKay, Nigel Hughes, Joseph Harmon and Christopher Ram. Meanwhile, Kissoon appears in association with attorney Mahendra Satram for the GRA.