Former Registrar Of Deeds In Guyana Found Guilty Of Fraud

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, March 12, 2020 (CMC) – Former Registrar of Deeds, Azeena Baksh, was found guilty, yesterday, almost three years after facing a fraud charge, for obtaining GUY$4.5 million, under false pretense, however, she will serve no jail time. 

Instead, the court ordered her to repay the funds to the state of Guyana. She was to pay, at least $1 million, before the end of yesterday, and has three months to pay off the remaining amount.

The Court found that Baksh unlawfully paid herself gratuity, in the sum of $4.5 million, knowing that she was not a contracted employee at the Deeds and Commercial Registry and, therefore, was not entitled to gratuity, since she was on the pension plan.

The Court heard that the money was paid, between May 2014 and January 2017.

The evidence revealed that Baksh, while being employed as a Judicial Service Commission appointee, placed the funds, from the Finance Ministry, into her Scotiabank account, while pretending to be a Deeds and Commercial Registry contractual employee.

Her actions were uncovered in April 2019, by the Ministry of Legal Affairs, and a probe — which led to the criminal charge being filed — was launched.