Cops held over $400M stolen gold put on open arrest
The two Subordinate Officers, who were arrested in connection with the multimillion dollar gold theft from a Mahaica, East Coast Demerara dealer, have been placed on open arrest as the investigation continues.
Sunday Stabroek was reliably informed that four other suspects remained in police custody up to yesterday.
Two of them – a 17year-old teenager and Deo Kissoon called ‘Troy’ and ‘Lolly’, 23, of Herstelling Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara (EBD), are expected to be charged tomorrow.
Police on Friday issued wanted bulletins for three more suspects in the crime.
The trio, Mark Singh, called ‘Poppy’, 22; Andray Duncan, called ‘Junior’, 27 and Damien Brummell, 51, are wanted for questioning for simple larceny of 1,000 ounces of raw gold valued at $400 million.
Singh’s last known addresses was given as Lot 592 Herstelling, EBD, Duncan’s last known address was given as Lot 718 Kaneville, Grove, EBD and Lot 36 Public Road, La Grange, West Bank Demerara, while Brummell’s last known address was given as Lot 29 New Road, Vreed-enHoop.
The gold was stolen from Bibi Acklema Goberdhan, who police had said had accumulated the gold at her Mahaica property over the years.
Two other men, Satrohan Seegobin, called ‘Richie’, 24, a construction worker, of Lot 13 Farm, EBD and contractor Bhaloonauth Seegobin, 49, called ‘Krishna’, of the same address were charged with the theft on Tuesday.
Satrohan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment. Seegobin denied the allegation and was remanded to prison after they both appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court.
So far, investigators have been able to recover 98 ounces raw gold and $6.6 million in cash.
While 28 ounces were found during the initial course of the investigation, another 70 were recovered on Thursday night.
Seven vehicles — a Toyota Axio motorcar, four Toyota Fielder wagons and two Canter trucks – were also seized earlier in the investigation and on Thursday an eighth vehicle, a Rav 4, were also seized. It is suspected that a sum of $9 million from the sold gold was used to procure the vehicle.
In addition, a number of items, including a gas stove, a washing machine, carpets, a dining set, a wheelbarrow, a television and a stereo set were confiscated as part of the probe. It is believed that these items were purchased by the suspects with the proceeds of the crime.
Police on Tuesday disclosed that ranks of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters were probing the theft, which was suspected to have occurred between December last year and January this year.
The theft was only reported to the police last Friday.
According to the police, Seegobin and Satrohan found the gold while conducting repairs on the home of the Mahaica dealer, Goberdhan, who they only identified as a businesswoman who has been a gold dealer for a number of years. She had not been named.
The police said 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.
It remains unclear whether Goberdhan is being investigated although 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 authorized in writing by the Board.