The finance controller of the Princess Hotel who was held with nearly $3 million (US$14,000) minutes before he was scheduled to leave the country on a Delta Airlines flight bound for New York, was yesterday placed on $300,000 bail when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Turkish national Canto Prack pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to make a declaration of in excess of US$10,000 on his way out of Guyana, when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.
It is alleged that on September 29 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Prack failed to declare to customs that he was taking out of Guyana more than US$10,000 which he had on his person.
As the defendant’s lawyer Nigel Hughes was about to address the court on his client’s behalf, the magistrate called the matter to the bench where a lengthy discussion ensued.
Prack was later placed on $300,000 bail and ordered to return to Court Six today.
According to initial police reports the money belonged to the hotel. However, Canto, who had reportedly worked at the hotel for two months, said the money was owed to him. Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, had told this newspaper that the man was preparing to leave the country on an early morning flight when he was held after hotel management made a report to the police.
