A man was yesterday handed a four-year jail sentence after admitting to being party to the theft of $400 million worth of raw gold from a Mahaica dealer and four others, including two subordinate Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks, are in custody in connection with the ongoing investigation of the crime.
Although the theft occurred some nine months ago, it was only reported to the police last Friday, resulting in the investigation and charges.
According to a statement from the Director of the Force’s Corporate Communications Unit, Mark Ramotar, the Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters is conducting a probe into the theft of the raw gold.
Against this background, it said Satrohan Seegobin, called ‘Richie’, 24, a construction worker, of Lot 13 Farm, East Bank Demerara, was charged along with contractor Bhaloonauth Seegobin, 49, called ‘Krishna’, of the same address with the offence of simple larceny of 1,000 ounces of raw gold, valued at $400 million.
The two men appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court, where Satrohan pleaded guilty and Bhaloonauth pleaded not guilty.
Satrohan was then sentenced to four years imprisonment, while bail was denied for Bhaloonauth and he was remanded to prison.
The case was then adjourned until November 1 for report and statements for Bhaloonauth, who will appear at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court.
The police said the contractors found the gold while conducting repairs on the home of the Mahaica dealer, who was only identified as a businesswoman who has been a gold dealer for a number of years.
She could potentially face charges as well as the police said she had accumulated the raw gold and had concealed it at a location within her home over the years.
The Gold Board Act makes it illegal for persons who are not producers to have raw gold in their possession and stipulates that it must be sold to the Board or to any agent authorised in writing by the Board.
According to information released by the police, during the period of December 2021 to January 2022, the woman had contracted the two suspects to conduct repairs on her home. During the work, they found the gold and divided it among themselves.
The police said the men subsequently went on a shopping spree, while noting that in addition to a quantity of raw gold they had managed to recover four cars, a “canter,” $6,000,000 in cash from the men.
The police also disclosed that in addition to the contractors, two Subordinate Officers attached to the GPF in Berbice are presently in police custody, along with another suspect.
