The Special Organised Crime Unit of the Guyana Police has decided to discontinue the fraud charges against recently elected President Irfaan Ali over the sale of government lands when he served as Minister of Housing.
In Court this morning, the matter was called forward following a request by Ali’s Attorney, Davendra Kissoon.
The lawyer had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions, SOCU and the Court seeking the discontinuation of the charges since the swearing-in of Ali as President.
He said it would not have been in the public’s best interest to continue the case since the Prosecution of a sitting President would be against Article 182 of the Constitution.
SOCU’s Special Prosecutor Patrice Henry explained that SOCU has made a decision to no longer pursue the 19 criminal charges against the new President as he is immune to Prosecution.
Mr. Ali was charged in November 2018 after an investigation of his alleged involvement in the sale of prime government lands to members of the former PPP government pointed to alleged fraud.
Ali had always maintained his innocence, and when he was selected by his party to be the Presidential Candidate, he appealed the charges being laid against him in the Court of Appeal, which did not block the charges from proceeding.
Ali was declared the President of Guyana two weeks ago and sworn into office the same day that he was declared.
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