Alleged $93M gold heist mastermind remanded

-accused took sleeping pills after drugging co-worker, court hears

Neville Chandrawattie, an employee of the El Dorado Trading Company accused of masterminding the theft of $93M in raw gold and cash from the company, was yesterday remanded to prison on a charge of larceny.

Chandrawattie, 29, of Essequibo, was not required to plead to the charge when he was arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, just two days after three other men were charged for their alleged parts in the Port Kaituma heist.

It was alleged that on November 8, at Port Kaituma, he stole 96 ounces of raw gold valued $22M and $71M, which were the property of Tamesh Jagmohan.

Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, who stood in for specially appointed prosecutor Glenn Hanoman, said that Chandrawattie, who was employed at El Dorado Trading Company, concocted the plan to steal the money and gold from the company with Amirullah Kuturatullah. Kuturatullah and Anil Dairam, both of Blairmont, West bank Berbice and Kennett Garraway, of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, were the three men charged on Wednesday with the crime.

Mangru said Chandrawattie allowed Dairam to enter the premises and hide under the bed and he added sleeping pills to a co-worker’s porridge. Afterward, Mangru added, Dairam tied up the co-worker while Chandrawattie packed the cash and gold. Chandrawattie reportedly gave them to Dairam, who then made good his escape.

Chandrawattie is then alleged to have hidden the remaining gold and consumed the sleeping pills.

Mangru said the theft was reported and when approached by the police Chandrawattie admitted to the entire scheme. He added that the man co-operated with the police and took them to Kuturatullah’s home, where he showed police officers where the cash and gold was hidden.

Attorney Peter Hugh, who represented Chandrawattie, pleaded with the court for bail to be granted even if in a substantial amount. He said that his client had no previous convictions and added that simple larceny is an offence for which bail is granted. He also emphasised that Chandrawattie’s case is one of larceny and not robbery. He also stated that his client has a fixed place of abode and as such is not a flight risk.

However, Mangru objected to bail being granted based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and added that additional charged are likely to surface.

Hugh then inquired about the nature of the charge(s) likely to surface and also whether the files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Mangru said that investigations into the theft are not yet complete but noted that the files have been sent to the DPP.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry subsequently remanded Chandrawattie until November 22, when he will return for reports and fixtures.

Kuturatullah, Dairam and Garraway were also remanded to prison after they were charged on Wednesday. At their arraignment, special prosecutor Hanoman said that the men might flee the country if they were released from prison. “The prosecution case is strong,” he noted, while adding that the men confessed to their parts in the crime.