Tanzy Powell, the Branch Manager of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Limited in Bartica who was named in the $956 million fraud allegedly committed on the institution by Saddiqi Rasul has turned herself in to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters accompanied by her lawyer.
Saddiqi Rasul making his way to the prisoners holding dock after the charges being read
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, when contacted, told Guyana Times that immediately after Powell turned herself in to the Police, she was taken into custody and was assisting with investigations.
Powell reportedly colluded with Rasul to change cheques to the sum of $956 million before clearing them with Citizens Bank – the bank from where the cheques originated. It is believed that the woman did not follow protocol stipulated by the Bank’s policy before clearing the cheques.
This concern was raised by Rasul’s legal representative on Monday, while making a successful application for bail for his client. His client was released on $3 million bail and was scheduled to return to court on April 21.
Rasul, of Prashad Nagar and of First Avenue Bartica, who is the owner of SSS Minerals Trading Inc, allegedly deposited six cheques between March 21 and 24, 2017. The cheques were in the sum of $290 million, $96 million, $138 million, $89 million, $298 million and $45 million.
The incident became public on Thursday last and within a few hours, Rasul turned himself in to the CID headquarters in the company of his lawyer.
Following his arrest, the Police swooped down on several of the man’s properties in Bartica and Georgetown, along with his offices in Kitty, Georgetown; Bartica and Charity, Essequibo Coast, but came up empty-handed. In addition, several of his close associates were arrested and questioned, including his close ally, Hari Roopnarine.
Rasul is believed to have conned several gold dealers of hundreds of millions of dollars. He presently has several lawsuits hanging over his head from clients whose money he took to purchase gold, but instead fraudulently converted it to his own use. A few years ago, he collected close to $200 million from gold dealers to purchase gold, but this purchase never materialised.
Rasul was also implicated in the multimillion-dollar fraud committed on Mohamed and Sons. His cousin was charged and granted $15 million bail. Rasul was reportedly the mastermind in that fraud.
