(Kaieteur News) – Acting Chief Justice, Navindra Singh on Monday quashed the decision of Magistrate Dylon Bess, to dismiss four (4) counts of Money Laundering charges brought against citizens by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

According to information disseminated from SOCU, the charges were brought against Ian Jacobis, Ashiana Salamalay, Shameena Ahmad, and Shafee Ahmad for the offence of money laundering in contravention of section 3(1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, Cap. 10:11.

SOCU said the matters were before Magistrate Dylon Bess and following several adjournments later dismissed for want of prosecution. However, on Monday, Chief Justice Singh found the dismissal for want of prosecution in May 2026 was problematic since a dismissal for want of prosecution generally presupposes some culpable failure by the prosecution to diligently pursue the matter and if the prosecution was genuinely informed by the court office that the matter was adjourned to June 4, then the absence on May 6 was arguably induced by the court administration itself.’