Many questions still unanswered after 1994 killing of Kenny France
- Glenn Lall is the self-confessed ‘vigilante’ who fatally shot France
THE 1994 killing of 30-year-old Kenny France on January 20, which triggered widespread interest around the country, holds an equal level of interest today, particularly in light of recent events.Current publisher of the Kaieteur News, Mr. Glenn Lall, is the self-confessed “vigilante” who shot and killed France at McDoom and later described the incident as an “unfortunate” accident.
According to the Stabroek News, which reported extensively on the killing, Lall, a well-known stall-holder at the Stabroek Market and then rural constable with the police force shot France in the chest at close range with a .38 revolver.
Reports are that France’s step-son, Oliver Marshall, was wanted by the police in connection with a robbery at Lall’s home. On the day of the killing, Lall, using his post as a rural constable, went to France’s McDoom residence to arrest Marshall, where he was met with strong resistance by the boy’s relatives.
The Stabroek News article stated that police information indicated that there was a scuffle between Lall and Marshall, at which time the shot was fired and France was hit. “We have information to suggest that the two were engaged in a scuffle before the shot was fired. It was not a cold-blooded killing as France’s relatives would want us to believe,” the police source said, in the February 2, 1994 report.
In the case of France’s killing, there was no inquest into the circumstances of his killing – an action that has left eyebrows raised and many interested parties dissatisfied.
The conclusions reached by the police were deemed “not good enough” by France’s relatives.
QUESTIONS BEING ASKED
This sense of discontent has resurfaced and many persons, including eyewitnesses of the shooting, are now asking questions, following Lall’s recent alleged threats to a senior public official, as well as talk of Government ministers being blackmailed by him.
Lall’s alleged threats and talk of blackmail follow investigations by the relevant authorities into his alleged criminal activities.
In early September, Lall was alleged to have evaded taxes for over a decade now. Reports are that Mr. Lall, the owner of the Guyana National Media Publishing Company, is being investigated by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the importation of printing ink packaged as a CARICOM (Caribbean Community) product, which enjoys duty free concessions under the Revised Treaty of Chaguramas. Upon closer inspection, however, it was allegedly found that the origin of the inks was from overseas, and therefore in breach of the Treaty. As it relates to the progress of the investigation of the alleged tax evasion, the Guyana Chronicle has been made to understand that the necessary verification requests are still with the relevant authorities in Trinidad and Tobago.
Prior to the tax evasion allegation, Mr. Lall was fingered in an alleged re-migrant duty-free concession scam.
Six criminal charges have altogether been filed against Lall; his wife, Bhena; and Narootandeo and Gharbassi Brijnanan, who have all been implicated in the scam. The charges follow the seizure of two vehicles that are allegedly at the centre of a duty-free scam. The two vehicles in question, PRR 8398 and PRR 8399, were handed over to GRA and impounded at the Authority’s warehouse at the end of August, after an hours-long standoff between GRA officials and the Brijnanans’ son, Navin Sankar, a high-ranking GRA employee. An investigation was then launched to ensure that procedures and policy, as well as the provisions of the law were adhered to. The criminal charges, this newspaper understands, stem from that investigation. Lall is expected to appear in court on Monday to answer the charges.
Also, in mid-September, both Lall and his wife were sued by Acting Town Clerk of the Mayor and City Council, Ms Carol Sooba, for the sum of $ 5,660,142 and $60,142 as unpaid rates and taxes for the years 2004 to 2013 in relation to their property at 24 Saffon Street.
The case is currently being heard at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. In a defence seen by this newspaper and filed by attorney-at-law, Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, the Lalls claim that they had a set-off arrangement with the City Council, and they are not indebted for the taxes and that they repaid these taxes by publication of advertisements in the Kaieteur News. However, a source in the accounting department at City Hall denies any such arrangement. “There is certainly no document in writing to this effect,” the source disclosed.
On a personal level I like Yuji. In real life he is not crazy as the person he portrays here as Yuji. He served his country well in the past.