Berbice man faces jury for $10M flour theft, $6M embezzlement charges – 13 years later

Hemraj Singh Pahalad, who was accused of embezzling millions of dollars and stealing thousands of bags of flour in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice–Corentyne), pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him on Tuesday at the Berbice High Court. Pahalad was arraigned before Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty. The Police stated that Pahalad, who was employed by businessman Ramdial Ramoutar, embezzled $3,529,750 between February 12 and 16, 2013.

In a second count, the court heard that between February 13 and 16, 2013, he allegedly embezzled a further $3,071,500. Both sums had been received from Karamdeo Mangru on behalf of Ramoutar. Pahalad is also facing a third charge of larceny. Particulars of that offence stated that between February 2 and 16, 2013, he allegedly stole 200 100-pound bags of Thunderbolt flour, 515 two-kilogram (kg) bags of flour, 311 one-kg bags of flour, three bags of high-fibre flour, and 22 bags of self-rising flour, with a total value of $10,127,995.
Following his not-guilty plea, a 12-member jury was empanelled to hear the matter during a trial that got underway on Tuesday. The trial was subsequently adjourned to Thursday, when the prosecution is expected to begin presenting its case.