Suspended GRA staffer says action against him unjust

Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Law Enforcement Manager (ag) Troy Vannooten, who was recently suspended, has claimed that his suspension was “unjust, unfair and without merit.”

According to Vannooten, he is innocent and the internal allegations against him were trumped up mainly because he had ruffled feathers in the government tax collecting agency regarding corrupt practices

It was reported last week that Vannooten had been suspended for allegedly accepting payment in relation to release a truck of smuggled chicken which was seized by the GRA in September.

The Leyland DAF truck which bore Suriname licence plates reportedly contained 400 boxes of chicken worth some $2.8 million.

Vannooten along with at least two other staff members were alleged to have accepted a sum of undisclosed cash for the release of the vehicle.