The Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore is standing by his report which recognised wrongdoings in the prosecution of three senior managers of the New Building Society.

Former NBS Chief Executive Officer Maurice Arjoon had filed a complaint to the Ombudsman over several wrongs done to him and the other two managers as it relates to charges being brought against them in a fraud matter at the company although they were not directly implicated in that fraud.

The Ombudsman in his report which has been submitted to the Parliament office, expressed serious concerns about the way in which the men were charged and he questioned why the charges were continued against the managers even after another man provided a statement about the fraud.

The report by the Ombudsman has come in for criticism from many within the government including the Government’s Chief Spokesman, Dr. Roger Luncheon who said he believes that the Ombudsman was outside of his remit by following up and putting together a report on Arjoon’s complaint.

Justice Moore rubbished that charge at a Friday morning press conference and stated that he is convinced that he had jurisdiction in the matter.

“I have to satisfy myself that I have jurisdiction and I am satisfied that I had jurisdiction in this matter”, Moore said.

He also spoke about a letter he received from Labour Minister Nanda Gopaul and a prominent Senior Counsel who also wrote him on his findings. He said their letter referred to statements about the New Building Society that were not made by him. He said his report did not deal with the NBS’ decision to fire the managers but rather with the charges by the state against the three men.

Justice Moore said from the letters it is clear that the report was not read by the Senior Counsel or by Gopaul because they cannot point to any part of the report where his findings make reference to any issue regarding the New Building Society.

Justice Moore also said he is not worried about criticism that may be levelled against him. He said he took an oath of office and he will remain true to that oath.

The Ombudsman said he does not have a problem with the NBS and cannot have one with the NBS since how they may deal with their employees is a matter for them. He was adamant that persons should read his report before they make pronouncements on it.

The former NBS Chief Executive Officer Maurice Arjoon is convinced that he and the other two managers were maliciously prosecuted after being sent home from the company for the multi million dollar fraud that they was not linked to.

The court threw out all the charges against the three men and Arjoon has since filed civil proceedings against the NBS over his dismissal. He was a few months shy from his retirement and a handsome pension package when he was sent home and charged.

The entire fraud issue surrounded the withdrawal of millions of dollars from an account of a customer of the NBS.

NBS staffers were implicated in the fraud as well as two other men.

Arjoon believes he was only charged because the NBS under his watch did not want to invest in the construction of the Berbice River Bridge and the President at the time, Bharrat Jagdeo was not happy about that.

The Government has dismissed those allegations.

Filed: 28th November 2014

Related posts:

Jagdeo’s Attorneys question Court’s jurisdiction to hear recount injunction matter New Ombudsman, Justice Winston Patterson, sworn in to office President and Opposition Leader meet on appointment of new Ombudsman; Justice Winston Patterson to be appointed Guyana’s Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore passes on