The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) has initiated the required process to seek assistance from the Chinese Embassy on the ongoing probe into the $4.1 billion money laundering case allegedly involving 22 Chinese companies.
A source close to the investigation explained that while this process is ongoing there are a number of channels the request for assistance has to go through before a response can be given to SOCU.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn when contacted last week noted that given the sensitivity of the matter under investigation, he would not speak on it. “I am not in a position to speak on it,” he said in response to this newspaper’s question. He was asked whether the government has filed a request with the Chinese Embassy. This would presumably have to go through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sunday Stabroek’s effort to contact the head of SOCU, Assistant Commissioner Fazil Karimbaksh on the status of the investigation proved futile.
