More than four months after a wanted bulletin was issued for him, Devindra Moteeram was yesterday remanded to prison after being charged with breaking into four bonds on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and carting off millions in goods..
The 25-year-old businessman of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was accused of stealing millions in equipment, contractor tools and other items from the bonds when he appeared at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Annette Singh.
A police report stated that Moteeram was arrested last Thursday, April 20 and charged yesterday for the offence of break and enter and larceny committed on the storage bond (40ft container) owned by Aranco Services Inc. The items allegedly stolen included, 46 sash windows (36×48) valued at $782,000; 6 awning windows (12×24) valued at $39,000 each; 6 Sash windows (30×36) valued at $96,000; 2 buckets of oil paint (5 gallons each) valued at $62,000 and two electric saws valued at $90,000 each.
The incident occurred sometime between March 25, at about 17:00 hours and March 26, at 09:45 hors at the Young Professionals Scheme at Prospect, EBD.
Moteeram was also charged with stealing from a storage bond owned by Ghansham Rajpaul, a 27-year-old contractor of Lusignan, East Coast Demerara. This incident took place between March 28, at 17:30 hors and March 29 at 07:30 hours at Prospect Housing Scheme, EBD. On this occasion he allegedly stole one green and black Total generator valued at $85,000.
Moteeram was also charged with breaking into the property of Anil Singh, a 37-year-old manager of Premier Insurance Company where he was alleged to have taken one generator valued at $350,000, one compacter valued at $135,000, one grinder valued at $15,000, one electric saw valued at $15,000, One electric drill valued at $40,000, one water pump valued at $10,000, and one welding plant valued at $45,000.
The above-mentioned property/items belonged to Ryan Baiche, a 37-year-old contractor of Good Hope, ECD. The incident occurred at Lot 604 Covent Garden, EBD, between March 28 at about 18:30hrs and March 29 at about 09:30 hours.
Moteeram was also charged with break and enter and larceny, committed on the storage bond owned by Kamrul Baksh, Director of Guyana Tourism Authority between April 3 at about 16:30 hours and April 4 at about 08:00 hours at New Providence Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. The alleged haul here included one Total water pump, one 3-inch water pump, tile-cutting machines, one Hilti drill, one Total sander, one Total screw gun, one power vibrator, one Total hammer drill, one DeWalt circular saw, one DeWalt angle grinder, and one Yamaha generator. The items had a total value $910,000.
He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges and the matters were put down for disclosure on May 15th.
Minibus
Back on December 23, 2022, the police had issued a wanted bulletin for Moteeram, who allegedly collected $700,000 from a Plaisance couple as a down payment for a minibus, which he never delivered.
In the wanted bulletin, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said Moteeram was wanted for questioning in relation to obtaining money by false pretence and other offences.
The crime was allegedly committed on November 4, 2022. Moteeram’s last known address was Postel Squatting area, Georgetown, the police said.
The female complainant, who had asked that her and her husband’s names be withheld had told Stabroek News that they handed over the cash to Moteeram, who she said was a friend of her husband.
Moteeram was acting as the middleman for someone who he claimed was selling a mini bus for $1.8 million. They were told that the person was willing to accept a down payment of $300,000 followed by monthly installments of $50,000 until the bus was paid for.
The wife had said they inspected the bus on four occasions at two different locations, North Ruimveldt and a place on the West Demerara. She said two mechanics accompanied them to check the bus and they both found that it was in good working condition.
According to the wife, after the cash was handed over to Moteeram, he promised the couple that the following Monday he would be handing over the documents for the bus and the vehicle.
However, when the day arrived, her husband tried calling Moteeram to inquire about the promised transaction but the man did not answer his phone. She said her husband also contacted someone who identified himself as “Mr. Khan” and claimed to be the owner of the bus and he said that the bus and the documents would be handed over by Thursday. The reputed owner also said the bus was taken to a mechanic to change the key switch and the transmission, which had been damaged.
When the new day arrived for the handover, Moteeram called her husband and informed him that he would return some of the money received for the down payment as he was not getting through to Mr. Khan.
It was at that point that the frustrated husband told Moteeram that “either you give me the bus or all of my money back.” Moteeram hung up the phone and that was the last time the couple heard from him.
Moteeram was later spotted by the husband on Church Street, between Cummings and East streets. He approached him and asked for his money. Moteeram reportedly said he would bring some of the money the same afternoon but the husband was unmoved and stated that he wanted all of his money back and not just some. Moteeram asked the husband to give him a minute as he was going to hand someone some documents.
The husband said that Moteeram went to another car and stood there for about ten minutes before entering it and getting away.
Moteeram was among five persons who were accused of forging several cheques to the value of $19.4 million in the name of the Guyana Revenue Authority. They were charged last year. He was released on bail.
