Sat tells inquiry about hit ordered by HCU boss

File

Sat Maharaj told the Clico/HCU inquiry Thursday former HCU President Harry Harnarine paid a hit man to kill him.

The Secretary General of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) made the charge in a heated exchange with Harnarine's lawyer, Farid Scoon.

Maharaj had received a subpoena to appear at the enquiry. He said, "I was receiving calls on the telephone and somebody called and told me that Harry had paid to eliminate me..

"One particular call was from somebody who was perceived to be Mr Harnarine's bodyguard. I would not call his name even if you insist I call his name because I would not want to expose him to any kind of reprisals," he added.

Maharaj said when he learned about the alleged hit he wrote a letter dated July 11, 2008 to the Commissioner of Police calling for an investigation. He said the office of the Commissioner responded on November 19, 2008 and provided increased police patrols around his residence.

Maharaj read from the letter:

"A comprehensive threat assessment was conducted with a view of determining the existing threat levels. As a result of systematic analysis of the intelligence gathered it was deduced and realised that a low level of threat exists. Patrols have been directed to pay particular attention to the area."

Maharaj said when Harnarine became HCU president the two of them met harnarine received the blessings of the SDMS. He said the relationship deteriorated when the HCU opened its membership to non-Hindus.

"The Hindu Credit Union is like the Catholic Credit Union and the Muslim Credit Union. It was a Hindu credit union and anybody who was a Hindu could join, whether you are a white Hindu or an African Hindu, whatever it is, so long as they are Hindu. It is not in the right of Harry Harnarine to make these decisions without some kind of consensus from the (Hindu) community," Maharaj said.

Maharaj said apart from his opposition to the inclusion of non-Hindus in the credit union, he also received "unsubstantiated reports" that Harnarine was involved in questionable land transactions.

Maharaj said a file was sent to then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson to investigate (the HCU).