‘Seized’ excavator still not returned by SAUTT

The deadline was given by Sookoo’s attorney Shivanand Dubay, who sent him a letter last Wednesday. Up to 3.30 pm yesterday, Dubay claimed he is yet to receive feedback from Joseph. Dubay also said he was yet to receive correspondence from Minister of National Security Brigadier John Sandy and Acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert, who he asked, via letter, to launch an immediate investigation into the disappearance of the excavator, valued over $1,000,000.

When contacted yesterday an official from SAUTT’s Communications Department took the question and said an attempt will be made to contact the SAUTT Director for a comment. However, up to press time, there was no response from SAUTT.

It was reported that the equipment — a CAT 320BL — was seized by lawmen on January 14, 2009, at Block Three in Wallerfield, after it was alleged that quarrying work carried out in the area was illegal.

The operator of the equipment was arrested and charged, while the machinery was taken to SAUTT’s compound at Wallerfield, where it was kept.

Sookoo claimed that following court proceedings, the magistrate ordered the equipment be released to the owner and documents to that effect were issued by the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). An application for release was made by Dubay.

After being invited to the Wallerfield base to retrieve his excavator, it was nowhere in sight. Sookoo was accompanied by the complainant PC Ramdeen. A further check to the guard booth’s officer revealed that the diary and records relating to the particular month of January 2009 were also missing.