| – Customs duty evasion,Devin Gardner Michigan Jersey, fraud charges likely,Teddy Bridgewater Louisville Jersey, says Govt. officialThe Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) is set to investigate whether fraud was involved in the importation of a recreational vehicle (RV) into Guyana last year.The vehicle, bearing registration plates PSS 5600, is under the control of former Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford, and is currently parked at her New Hope, East Bank Demerara business place.A Government official said that the transaction was unearthed during routine checks and an initial examination of the paper works found that only $2M was paid in taxes. It is believed that the recreational vehicle was shipped in and a wrong classification was used on the Customs declaration forms to calculate the taxes.As much as $11M was said to have been lost in revenues.“From checks, we believe that the transaction can constitute a breach of Sections 217 and 218 of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01, once it can be established that the person(s) were knowingly involved in fraudulent evasion or attempts to evade import duties of Customs. This carries penalties of up to three times the value of the item and imprisonment for one year and the item can be forfeited,Jon Beason Miami Jersey,” the official disclosed.A recreational vehicle is a motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities normally found in a home. It is also known as a caravan, a camper van and a motor home.According to information provided to Kaieteur News,Derrick Rose Memphis Jersey, the 2003 Gulfstream RV was imported in June 2014.Westford declared the value as US$9,500.The partly hidden RV at former Minister’ business place at New Hope,Cheap NFL Jerseys, East Bank Demerara.Dr. Jennifer WestfordThe Harmonized System (HS) of Customs classification,Charles Woodson Michigan Jersey, Chapter 87.03 governs the classification of motor vehicles designed for the transport of persons.Included in the HS classification are motor-homes (campers, etc.) and vehicles for the transport of persons and specially equipped for habitation -with sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities.It also covers vehicles specially designed for travelling on snow (eg. snowmobiles) and golf carts and similar vehicles and vehicles of capacity of over 3,000cc.The RV was either incorrectly or deliberately classified as a gold cart.As a result, Westford only paid $785,526 in duties; $829,515 in VAT; $471,316 in Excise Tax and $100 in Admin Charge- all totaling $2,086,Michigan State Spartans Jerseys,457.Similar RVs abroad sell for between US$23,Wholesale Jerseys Paypal,000-US$26,Jerseys From China,000.This latest probe will pile more woes on Westford, the former Minister of the Public Service, under the previous administration.She was the centre of investigations when the new Government took office in May and found several vehicles missing.Following the police’s involvement in the matter, the former Minister and her assistant, Margaret Cummings appeared in court, charged with the illegal transfer of eight vehicles. The vehicles were reportedly placed in the names of family members and close associates.Westford and Cummings are also under police scrutiny into a probe where more than $500M has disappeared from the bank accounts of the Public Service Ministry.The monies were withdrawn since 2012 with police currently examining records at the Ministry of the Presidency. |
