The Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack, admitted in a statement this afternoon that advice was sought from her chambers in connection with an investigation into Yuri Garcia Dominquez, who remains in Police custody on allegations of operating a suspected ponzi scheme.

Responding to recent statements by former Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix who clarified issues surrounding the granting of citizenship to the Cuban national, the DPP said the Police dispatched files to her office twice for advice. She said the first file was received in November last year and appeared incomplete.

The Police Force was asked to conduct further investigations and when the file was resubmitted for advice in April of this year, legal advice was provided based on the statements that were in the file.

The DPP said the statements in the Police file did not disclose that Garcia was involved in any unlawful activities.

She said the complaint which sparked the investigation was made through an anonymous report and based on the investigations conducted by the police, there was no evidence of the commission of any offence by Yuri Garcia Dominguez.

The investigation came to an end following the advice of the DPP and the Cuban was allowed to continue with his application for Guyanese citizenship by naturalisation based on his marriage to a Guyanese citizen.

The statement by the DPP raises new questions about the earlier probe by the Police, but confirms statements by the former Citizenship Minister Winston Felix that it was an anonymous tip and not any formal complaint that triggered an investigation of the Cuban businessman.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall launched a multi agency probe into allegations that the businessman was operating a ponzi scheme in Guyana, a claim that the man’s company, Accelerated Financials, has denied.

The Attorney General has claimed that over 17,000 persons might have been affected by the financial dealings of the company, which he said has breached several local financial laws.

However, even with a full investigation underway right now, the Police Force has received only a handfull of statements from persons who have claimed that they lost money by investing with the company.

The Bank of Guyana recently made an unprecedented move to publish the personal banking records of the owner of the firm and his wife. The Bank of Guyana is part of the probe along with the Securities Council. A number of local banks have closed the accounts of the couple.

But in a statement yesterday, the company said the accounts should be reopened so that it be allowed to give investors their money back. They also want to be properly registered to transact financial trading in Guyana.

News Source understands that the Police Force is continuing to build a case against the husband and wife and they could find themselves in Court this week.

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