More than a week after he was charged with attempting to export over $7 million in raw gold without a licence, Vibert Marks appeared in a city court yesterday and was charged with attempting to bribe a Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) officer.
Marks, of Lot 95 Independence Street, La Grange, denied the charge, which stated that on November 18th, 2019, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri he corruptly offered a CANU agent, Dominic Smart, the sum of $100,000 as a reward for forbearing to investigate him, an act in relation to his principal affairs.
The charge was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One.
In his application for bail, attorney Glenn Hanoman told the magistrate that Marks is not a flight risk and he had proven that as he has been reporting to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) headquarters every day since he has been charged with the other offence. He also requested that the two matters be tried together.
The magistrate granted Marks bail in the sum of $100,000, with the condition that he reports to SOCU headquarters every Friday at 08:30. With no objections from Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, who said that two statements are still outstanding, the magistrate agreed to Hanoman’s request in relation to the two matters being tried together. The matter was adjourned until January 6th, 2020.
Two Mondays ago Marks was charged with attempting to export over $7 million worth of gold without being the holder of an export licence. He denied the charge, which stated that on November 18th, CJIA, Timehri while not being a producer and without an export licence, he was found in possession of raw gold, weighing 974.13 grammes, valued $7,332,416.
It is alleged that during a check, a darkish object was found in the corner of Marks’ suitcase. Marks had informed that he had 80 ounces of gold, however, upon further search, it was revealed that it was more than the amount mentioned. The gold was found by a CANU officer, who Marks then allegedly attempted to bribe.
