The Guyana Revenue Authority, (GRA) today filed a criminal case against sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, accusing him of making a false declaration in relation to the undervaluing of a luxury Lamborghini vehicle.

The GRA said it has been provided with documents which point to Mr. Mohamed paying more than US$600,000 for the vehicle in 2020, but later declared that he paid US$76,000.

The GRA contends that an under declaration was made with the aim of defrauding the state hundreds of millions in taxes.

At his press conference today, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo said the criminal case was filed based on the evidence that the Government was able to secure from the US Justice Department.

“Now we have evidence, the Commissioner (GRA) Statia, today filed criminal case because false declaration is a crime according to our laws, they have charged many people with false declarations before. He (Azruddin) has put in his document, the court record that he pay $US75,000 for the vehicle, the GRA through the designated contact point sent off a later to the US Treasury and they have received the evidence through the Treasury Department, this is perjury before the Court,” Jagdeo declares.

Mr. Jagdeo told reporters that GRA has gone after people for far less and there should be no special treatment in this case. He said all eyes will be on the Court to see how it will address the latest submissions and case.

“The GRA has gone after people for half of a million dollar taxes, they have seized public servants and poor people vehicles, routinely they do this, 300 vehicles they seize for different transgressions, here it seems like a different rule applies,” Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo said the day of reckoning is coming for persons in the GRA and the Police Force who have been sharing information with the Mohameds. He said he will continue to look at the matter with keen interest.

“I am glad that this is actually coming out because if this was a poor man, they would have properly already taken his vehicle, he couldn’t have mobilize people and block the GRA. So, I am looking forward with great interest of what is going on,” Jagdeo says.

The Vice President said his Govenment will continue to keep its distance from the Mohameds, because it will not put the country’s financial system at risk.

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