Neville Chandrawattie, the El Dorado Trading Company employee accused of masterminding the theft of $93M in raw gold and cash from the company, was last week slapped with two additional charges.
Chandrawattie, 29, of Essequibo, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court accused of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
It was alleged that between October 1 and November 3, at Port Kaituma, Chandrawattie had a .32 Taurus Pistol and two matching rounds of ammunition in his possession, while not being the holder of a firearm licence. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Chandrawattie and his co-accused Kenneth Garraway, of Lot 37 Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, Anil Dairam, 28, of Lot 52 Blairmont, West Bank Berbice and Amirullah Kuturatullah, 45, of Lot 23 Blairmont, West Bank Berbice, were all refused bail once more and further remanded until November 29.
Special Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman objected to bail, stating that additional charges are likely to be brought against Chandrawattie and the three other men charged alongside him with the heist.
He added that since Chandrawattie cooperated with the police during their investigations, he feels that it may be in his interest to remain in police custody for his own safety.
Attorney Latchmie Rahamat, who represented Chandrawattie, said that her client has no knowledge of the gun and ammunition and that he at all times had denied the allegation.
Attorney Tejnarine Ramroop, who represented Kuturatullah, said that last week a police prosecutor had said that other charges were likely to be brought against his client but nothing has been done. In pressing for bail, he said Kuturatullah was not a flight risk but he did not manage to convince the court.
