SARU is legitimate – Minister Trotman

Georgetown, GINA, July 21, 2016

The State Asset Recovery Unit (SARU) is a legally operating entity, as it is a legitimate department of the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman told the media at a post-Cabinet press briefing Presidency, today.

The Minister’s statement was made in response to a question about the legitimacy of SARU.

The Minister noted that, “In so far as prosecuting authority, agreeably they are unable to prosecute, but certainly as a State Asset Recovery Unit; they have a right to investigate and to report and then enforcement arms of the State – police, DPP’s (Director of Public Prosecution) Chambers – they can take up the prosecution.”

“There is nothing to suggest in my view that SARU is without any legal cloak,” Trotman said.

SARU was established as a result of obligations under the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Corruption. The unit has been tasked with investigating claims of corruption and malfeasance committed against the State. As result of investigations and audits, several cases of suspected corrupt practices have been forwarded to the Guyana Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.