‘Suspected fraud in Henderson land dealing’
By ANDREW FANASIA
THE Commissioner of Lands Allan McNeil said that his office will retrieve a controversial Fixed Term Estate (FTE) allegedly sold by its suspended Commissioner to an Asian while the court is dealing with the newly constructed building next to the airport runway at Henderson.
Mr McNeil confirmed this during the Yumi TokTok Forum (YTTF) open forum in Honiara on Friday.
It was being attended by invited YTTF member, Guadalcanal landowners and other participants.
While he affirmed his office the Ministry of Lands will definitely retrieve the FTE back, he confirmed that he cannot disclose how they will do it.
This announcement came as welcome news to the YTTF members and other interested citizens who have been following up this particular issue.
With the controversial Island Plaza along the airport runway, Mr McNeil said the Ministry has taken a different approach to address that issue.
“It is hard for the Commissioner to go against another Commissioner in the court but my office has put forward a claim to the High Court for rectification of the land register,” Mr McNeil confirmed, Friday.
He added that this means if the Ministry of Lands is successful, the Commissioner will take back the land.
The CoL said it will take time because the High Court hearing always takes time.
“But by looking at the file, I am aware that there is back dating going on and I certainly know there were possibilities of fraud exist.
“This is to do with application letter and approval letter because, if see the approval letter with the land application file reference which dated 2013 but the land application reference was created in 2015 this is very obvious that fraud is involved,” Mr McNeil confirmed.
He further stated that if the High Court Judge agrees that fraud has taken place, then surely the Ministry of Lands will retrieve the land.
Meanwhile when asked about the AJ construction land issue next to Lungga bridge, Mr McNeil said he has no knowledge about that dealing.
“It was done before I took up the Commissioner of Lands post,” Mr McNeil confirmed.
This paper understands that this is the second public forum YTTF organised and it turns out successfully.