We see the fund raising drive of the party falling apart as their schemes are ill planned and their operatives get caught.
Mastermind in Port Kaituma gold heist remanded
By Sunita Samaroo
The man believed to be the “mastermind” who orchestrated the gold heist in Port Kaituma from the El Dorado Gold Trading Company was yesterday remanded to prison when he made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Neville Sunil Chandrawattie, 29, of Lot 33 Sparta, Essequibo Coast, was not required to plead to the indictable charge of Simple Larceny when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Kevin Chandrawattie, “mastermind” in gold heist
It is alleged that on November 8, Chandrawattie stole 96 ounces of raw gold valued at $22M and $71M in cash from El Dorado Gold Trading Company.
Police Prosecutor Corporal Bharat Mangru standing for State Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman, said that the accused who was employed by the company is known to Amirulllah “Iron Roller” Kudratulla who was previously charged in this matter.
According to Mangru, some time prior to the commission of the crime, Chandrawattie and Kudratulla carefully crafted a plan to steal the money and gold from the company.
The court heard that the accused allowed Anil Dhiram, who was also charged, to enter the company’s premises. It was arranged for Dhiram to hide under a bed whilst Chandrawattie placed sleeping tablets in his co-worker’s porridge.
The Prosecution stated that later that evening Dhiram pounced on a co-worker and proceeded to tie him up. The employee was allegedly lashed on his head with a gun and further beaten about the body by Dhiram while the “mastermind” swiped the money and gold.
Mangru told the court that Chandrawattie then packed the items in a bag and handed the bag to Dhiram who then fled on the boat of Kenneth Garraway, the Boat Service owner who was also charged.
According to the Prosecutor Mangru, the “mastermind” separately hid a considerable sum of money and gold just before he drank sleeping tablets in what is believed to be an effort to feign sleeping through the incident.
The court heard that after the investigations commenced, Chandrawattie was interviewed and he revealed the details of the planning and execution of the entire scheme.
He then led the search to the properties of Kudratulla and Garraway where a quantity of money and gold was recovered by police ranks.
The Prosecutor then objected to bail on account of the seriousness of the offence. He said that if granted pre-trial liberty Chandrawattie may not return to answer to his charge. Mangru also stated that the accused is a flight risk who may have to face more charges in this matter.
The alleged master conspirer was represented by Defence Attorneys Peter Hugh, Compton Richardson and Hughly Griffith.
Hugh, who made an application for bail, told the court that the charge which was presented to their client is for simple larceny which is a bailable offence since “it was not a case of robbery.”
The Chief Magistrate refused bail and adjourned the matter to November 22.
what the rass...
