By Kurt Campbell

Publisher of Kaieteur News, Glenn Lall and Commissioner General of GRA, Khurshid Sattaur.

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Amid refuting charges by Editor of Kaieteur News Adam Harris, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Khurshid Sattaur is insisting that Publisher of the daily newspaper, Glenn Lall has been slapped with fraud charges.

When contacted today, following reports in sections of the media at the weekend, Sattuar confirmed with iNews that the tax regulatory body will proceed with Court action against Lall and his wife for allegedly committing tax fraud on two Lexus vehicles which is currently in GRA’s possession and have been at the center of an ongoing investigation for the last two months.

“Glenn Lall is misusing his position as a Head of a media house, he has been misusing his position as a friend of a family that he engineered in getting two concessions for and he has been charged for those offences, these are no longer allegations made, subject to Court proceedings,” Sattaur said.

However, in Lall’s absence, Harris has challenged such reports.

“We know absolutely nothing and we saw no such report… Lall is abroad but no summon was served to this office and I’m sure not was served to his home,” Harris told iNews during a telephone interview.

Reports are that six criminal charges have been filed against Lall and his wife for breaching the Customs Act and the conditions of the duty free concessions which were granted to a re-migrant couple.

The Commissioner General says because of this investigation, Lall is now using his newspaper to “turn the heat up on GRA and get other people involved in condemning the agency.”

The GRA Head said it was very disturbing to see the quality of information that is being leaked to the publication and used to create mischief.

“What is more disturbing is that other entities such as political parties have now joined the bandwagon and I am very alarmed, it appears Kaieteur news has access to information at GRA… one only needs to look at the daily ranting that is going on in the satire pages… that they have a source that leaks information and it’s not me.”

Kaieteur news had published emails, purporting to have been sent from the Commissioner General to high ranking government officials on tax information on several media houses.

To this end, Sattaur has denied ever sending those emails.

“If somebody fart too hard, it’s out there, if somebody walk too hard it’s out there and it is not in my interest to put that information out there, it is evident that the Kaieteur News has a source within GRA,” he said; adding that “what is troubling is how the information got out there, information that is not palpable for the public domain and I call upon political parties to question Glen Lall on how he gets information from within GRA.”

Sattaur believes his email was hacked and used for sinister purposes.

“I want the police to investigate how Glen Lall is receiving on a daily basis information on GRA.”

He says it is an orchestrated plot by Lall to discredit him and the entity; saying he is using his contact within the agency to do same.

“GRA is a repository for tax payers information and it seems Glen Lall has broken into that safety,” he said; adding that “I’m getting very upset and concerned and I’m am calling on the police to investigate because it is highly illegal for anyone who works here to be giving such information to anyone and for it to be used for mischief, it is highly highly criminal and it is subject to serious offense.”