One day after the former Commissioner and CEO of the Lands And Surveys Commission Trevor Benn was questioned about the land deals while he headed the Government agency, the Chief Executive of Cevon’s Waste Management Morse Archer was called in for questioning by the Criminal Investigations Department.
Archer’s questioning related to the plot of land that he acquired from the Lands and Surveys along Mandela Avenue.
The businessman was accompanied by his Attorney, Senior Counsel Neil Boston. The Attorney said it appears as though the Police Force is trying to use statements made by the businessman as evidence to take criminal action against the former Head of the Lands and Surveys Commission.
“Well, I’m of the opinion that they are seeking to ascertain information from him to see in what way it could build their perspective of alleged misconduct by the former Commissioner of Lands and Surveys and that’s all. They probably want to see whether the statement that he gave will be in support of what they perceived to be a crime committed by Mr. Benn”, the Attorney said.
Mr. Boston added that withstanding requests from the Police, he has advised his client about providing statements although they claimed that the businessman is not a suspect.
The Attorney said the investigators wanted a statement detailing how the land along Mandela Avenue was acquired from the Lands and Surveys Commission.
A few weeks ago, the businessman was threatened with legal action by the Attorney General if he did not give up the land within weeks. But the Attorney General eventually backed down from his demands claiming that a resolution was being examined.
The Attorney General’s contention is that the land belongs to the National Sports Commission and did not belong to the Lands and Surveys Commission at the time of its disposal.
The CEVON’s owner has made it clear that he followed all legal requirements for acquiring the land and paid $100 Million to the Lands and Surveys Commission, which was more than the land was valued.
Last Friday, Mr. Benn was charged with misconduct in public office over the sale of a plot of land at Ogle to a business. He has denied the allegations leveled against him and said he is being targeted and victimised by the current government because of his race. Benn said he does not understand why he would be charged for earning additional money for the government.
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