– father, son charged; 2 Police ranks under close arrest for allegedly taking bribe to cover up theft
Forty-nine-year-old Bhaloonauth Seegobin, called ‘Krishna’, and his 24-year-old son Satrohan Seegobin, called ‘Richie’, both carpenters of Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD), were on Tuesday arraigned before Cove and John Magistrate Fabayo Azore on a charge alleging that they stole 1000 ounces of raw gold, worth $400 million, from a businesswoman of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
The theft reportedly occurred between December 2021 and January 2022, but was reported to the Police only on Friday last. Guyana Times understands that the businesswoman discovered the gold missing only when she went to check on it last week, and she immediately contacted the Police.
Bhaloonauth Seegobin has pleaded not guilty to the charge, and has been remanded to prison until November 1, 2022, but Satrohan Seegobin has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
Reports are that the businesswoman is a gold dealer who, over the years, has accumulated the raw gold and concealed same at a location within the confines of her home. The two men were contracted by the victim to conduct repairs to her home, during which they found the stash of gold and divided same between them, and went on a spending spree. During the investigation, detectives recovered three motor vehicles – two cars and one canter – as well as a quantity of raw gold.
In addition, two Police officers stationed in Berbice, who had reportedly received a tip-off about the robbery, are presently in custody after they allegedly took a $6 million bribe to sweep the crime under the carpet. These two officers are presently being interrogated by members of the GPF Major Crimes Unit.
Meanwhile, as investigations continue, detectives on Tuesday afternoon arrested another suspect, and were able to recover $6 million in cash, along with two motor cars. Investigations are ongoing.
