Top Cop revokes licence for Saddiqi Rasul’s security company

Top Cop Seelall Persaud has written to embattled gold dealer, Saddiqi Rasul informing him that the licence of his security company has been revoked with effect from June 30, 2017.

The business, which is located at Lot 23 Gordon Street, Kitty, Georgetown, has

been in existence for a number of years and has allegedly provided security services to several mining companies but more so, to provide protection for Rasul himself, who is presently on bail following his arraignment on several counts of fraud committed on the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).

In a letter addressed to Rasul and dated June 23, 2017, the Top Cop ordered that the businessman hand over to the Guyana Police Force all the weapons owned by the security company. Guyana Times understands these amounted to 45 high-powered rifles.

The letter also instructed Rasul to inform his clients of the licence revocation and urged that members of the firm desist from wearing the uniform.

In addition, the security firm was ordered to cease the training of personnel and to desist from using any logo that may have been associated with the security company.

When contacted, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud confirmed that he had

written to Rasul informing him of the revocation of the licence and more so, instructed him via letter that he had up to June 30 to hand over all weapons and ammunition to the Force.

Persaud further stated that he had also written to A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander, Marlon Chapman to follow through with the order. However, the Top Cop was unable to verify whether or not Rasul was in compliance with the letter and promised to check on the status of the issue.

When contacted, Chapman told Guyana Times that he was not aware of any attempts to revoke the license of Saddiqi Rasul Security Company and at no point in time was he instructed to sieze any fireman and ammunition belonging to the embattled businessman.

However, in a letter seen by this newspaper addressed to the Commander, it instructed that the letter informing Rasul of intention to revoke his licence be delivered and when that is done, the Commander is to make sure that all properties issued to him be handed over by June 30.

Sources told this newspaper that Rasul has not compiled with the letter. The source also explained that members of the security firm only protect Rasul.

Rasul, of Prashad Nagar, Greater Georgetown and of First Avenue, Bartica, the owner of SSS Minerals Trading Inc, had allegedly deposited six cheques in the bank between March 21 and 24, 2017. The cheques were for the sums of $290 million, $96 million, $138 million, $89 million, $298 million and $45 million. He was charged and placed on $6 million bail. However, the Bank Manager reportedly colluded with Rasul to change the cheques before clearing them with Citizens Bank, from where they had allegedly originated.

As investigations continued into the alleged fraud committed by Rasul, a search was conducted at the Sandy Babb Street, Kitty home of his close associate, and it was reported that after several hours of search, SOCU agents removed from those premises three CBR motorcycles, a Jet ski and a bag containing a quantity of ammunition. Prior to that raid, a black 2013 Hilux belonging to Rasul was seized by SOCU after it was discovered it bore false number plates. It is believed that the vehicle was imported from Brazil without the necessary paperwork and taxes paid.

Days after the vehicle was seized, GRA officials swooped down on another of Rasul’s locations and found a fully armoured vehicle that was not registered with the Revenue Authority.