Gold to silver trio charged

-granted $600,000 bail each

The three persons who earlier this week allegedly attempted to smuggle over 240 ounces of gold to the United States  pleaded not guilty to the joint charge when they appeared before the court yesterday, and have each been placed on $600,000 bail.

Ian Jacobis, 44, of Lot 749 Plantation Best, West Coast Demerara; Shameena Ahamad, 52, of Lot 38 Roraima Scheme, West Bank Demerara; and Ashiana Salamalay, 34, of Lot 38 Roraima Scheme, West Bank Demerara, were all charged with the offence of exporting gold without a licence in contravention of Section 8 of the Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01, contrary to section 23 (a) of the said Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01, police yesterday said.

The defendants appeared at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, where the charge was read to them, and they all pleaded not guilty.