Bharrat Jagdeo arrested, released without charge

Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana's Opposition leader, was among four former top government officials arrested on Tuesday.
 
A total of seven persons were arrested and questioned by the Special Organised Crime Unit as part of its criminal investigation into the sale of lands in the controversial ‘Pradoville 2’ housing scheme.

Jagdeo, former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, former Natural Resources Minister, Robert Persaud and General Manager of the Gold Board Lisaveta Ramotar – who is the daughter of former President Donald Ramotar – were all arrested by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

Later in the day, several other persons, including private sector executive Ramesh Dookhoo, Marcia Nadir-Sharma and Ghansham Singh–son of former Labour Minister Dr. Nanda Gopaul – went to SOCU’s Camp Street office for questioning.

They were all released without charge after hours of interrogation.

The main issue at hand is the acquisition of what has been described as prime seaside land at Plantation Sparendaam and Goedverwagting, more commonly known as “Pradoville Two,” below market value during the time of the People's Progressive Party- Civic government.

Mr Jagdeo, a former president of Guyana, described the arrests as a grave injustice.