GRA manager & other employees terminated after unlawful transfer of Azruddin’s vehicles

The Revenue Authority, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, has initiated actions to have proceedings brought against Mr. Azruddin Mohamed and employees of the Agency for the blatant act committed contrary to the provisions of section 3(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act and established procedures. The strict statutory provision states that:

“A person commits the offence of money laundering if he knowingly or having reasonable grounds to believe that any property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of crime – converts or transfer property knowing or having reason to believe that property is the proceeds of crime, with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of that property.” Moreover, section 3(4) of the said act explicitly states that “For the purposes of this Act, it is not necessary for any person to be convicted of a serious offence to prove that property is the proceeds of crime.”

Despite knowing that Mr. Mohamed has been sanctioned and indicted for, inter alia, alleged fraud, customs violations, and money laundering, and that restrictions have been imposed, certain employees of the Revenue Authority appear to have acted in concert to transfer the said motor vehicles from his name to other individuals, in a manner contrary to statute and established procedures. Accordingly, the services of the said employees of the Authority, together with their Manager, have been terminated.

The Revenue Authority must again take this opportunity to repeat its call for the General Public to report any illicit, or unlawful activities on telephone numbers 592-225-5061, Ext.2501-10 or 227-6060, Ext. 3201-12 or 3408. All information provided will be dealt with strict confidentiality and such persons may be rewarded in accordance with the laws administered.