-granted bail of $500,000 each
Four persons who were held by police as part of probe into the disguising of gold jewellery as silver were yesterday charged with money laundering.
In a statement, the police said that Saffee Ahmad called ‘Chillo’, 58, Shameena Ahamad, 52, and Ashiana Salamalay, 33, all of 38 Roraima Scheme, Versailles, West Bank Demerara, and Ian Jacobis, 44, of 749 Plantation Best, West Coast Demerara, were all charged separately with the offences of Money Laundering, in contravention of Section 3(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act Cap 10:11.
The accused appeared at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sunil Scarce, where the charges were read to them, and they were not required to plead.
Bail was granted in the sum of $500,000 each, with the condition that Saffee Ahmad reports to SOCU on the last Friday of every month. The matter was adjourned to 30th July, 2024.
On 3rd June 2024, Customs Officers of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), who were on duty at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, seized several pieces of gold jewellery from Shameena Ahmad and Salamalay (both of whom are US citizens), and Jacobis after they were attempting to leave Guyana on an outbound American Airlines flight for New York.
They were attempting to take out of the country approximately 240 ounces of virtually pure gold disguised as silver-plated jewellery without having the necessary permits and declaration to Customs Officials.
The gold is valued at over US$560,000 ($117,001,604).
A parallel money laundering investigation was conducted by SOCU, resulting in the four accused being charged.
