Accountant accused of stealing $10M from Metro

An accountant at the Metro Office and Computer Supplies Store is being accused of stealing $10M from the company.

Rabindranauth Seenarine, 56, who has been working at the company for 13 years, pleaded not guilty to the charge that he collected $10,758,098 on the behalf of the company and converted it to his own use and benefit.

Seenarine was placed on $250,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, after an application by his lawyer, who told the court that he was the victim of an internet scam.

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that Seenarine committed the crime while working as an accountant at Metro between February 1 and July 31, this year.

Mangru did not object to bail being granted but suggested that Seenarine lodge his passport.

Attorney Yoganand Persaud stated that Seenarine, who lives at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, has been an accountant for over 25 years and he had been working at Metro for the past 13 years. “My client has no financial problems and has never had any troubles with the law. He is just a victim of an internet scam and he is willing to work out a plan for payment,” Persaud said.

He made an application for reasonable bail to be granted.

Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry granted bail but ordered that Seenarine reports to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Friday pending the outcome of the matter.

The case will be called again on November 15.