Two employees of Adamantium Holdings were yesterday charged with fraudulently obtaining $1.152 million from the company which had been intended for the delivery of 64 truckloads of laterite.
Forty-four-year-old Myrvin George, of Victoria Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and Daniel Baker, of Mahaica Park, East Coast Demerara (ECD) were before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. They were not required to plead to the charge which alleges that between October 31 and December 10, at Lot 16 Sublot ‘A’ Mudlot Kingston, Georgetown, with the intent to defraud, they obtained the sum of $1,152,000 from Adamantium Holdings by falsely pretending they delivered 64 truckloads of laterite, knowing same to be false.
The men were released on $150,000 bail each and told to return to court on January 17.
According to the facts of the matter, the men were working with the company and had made agreements to provide trucking services to transport laterite from 9 Miles, Bartica Potaro Road to various parts of a stretch of road. This was to be done with a payment of $18,000 per truckload, which would be claimed for by Baker, a sub-contractor. It was reported that George, who is the manager, was tasked with reporting the number of truckloads that were transported and the company would issue payments at their office at Lot 16 Sublot ‘A’, Mudlot, Kingston, Georgetown.
On December 14, Adamantium Holdings issued payments totaling $5,346,000 for 297 truckloads of laterite, which were reported by George and claimed by Baker. The company was notified of certain information which it then reported to police ranks who carried out a physical check of the worksite along with another manager who is responsible for oversight of the said project. Upon checking, it was discovered that 87 loads of laterite were along the stretch of the road. This information was double-checked with the manager’s record, which revealed an incomplete and inaccurate account.
Further checks were made and it was discovered that only 233 truckloads of laterite were on the security’s record. Therefore 64 truckloads of laterite which amounts to $1,152,000, were unaccounted for. Following this discovery, the police contacted the men who admitted, under caution after the allegation was put to them. In addition, $220,000 was handed over by the men which was reported to be payment to Baker who reported a number of truckloads of laterite were transported when this amount was false.
