Businessman found guilty of stealing $10M mining equipment

A Station Street, Kitty, Georgetown businessman was on Friday fined $100,000 with an alternative of 18 months’ imprisonment after he was found guilty by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for stealing a $10 million wash plant (equipment used for gold mining).
Vickram Singh, 32, was found guilty of the charge after a lengthy trial in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It was alleged that between February 1 and February 15, 2018, while in the vicinity of Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, he stole a wash plant valued $10 million, property of Mario Ferreira.
According to the prosecution’s case, between February 1 and February 15, 2018, the businessman paid a truck driver to transport the said equipment, which was parked in an empty lot next to the Virtual Complainant’s home. The VC was out of town at the time when the equipment was moved, the Court was told.
Upon returning home, Ferreira noticed that the equipment was missing and without hesitation, made reports to several Police Stations. Based on reports, Ferreira was able to make contact with the truck driver who was allegedly paid some $200,000 to remove the wash plant.
The Court heard that the truck driver told the VC that he was contracted by Singh to transport the wash plant in his vehicle to the North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini).
The businessman was subsequently arrested and charged.
Singh was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine, or in default, 18 months in prison. He was also instructed to transport the equipment back to Georgetown and pay for any damage caused.