In the wake of three of its employees being charged with the theft of fuel markers, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) yesterday said it had scored notable successes in the fight against fuel smuggling.
GEA in a release said that on November 01, 2011, through Special Prosecutor, Gino Persaud, it secured two convictions at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court in a verdict handed down by Magistrate Faith Mc Gusty.
It said that three defendants; Chandradatt Ramdass, Wexton Andrews and Ramdat Roopnarine were found guilty of transporting petroleum in bulk quantity on sea without a bulk transportation carrier licence.
“The penalty ordered was $500,000 each or one year imprisonment. Wexton Andrews was convicted ex parte (he never attended his trial). The three defendants were also found guilty of being in possession of petroleum in a total quantity exceeding 2000 litres without a storage licence. The penalty ordered was a fine of $300,000 each or six months imprisonment. At the time the charges were instituted there was a fourth defendant, Amarnauth Jaggernauth, who subsequently died during the trial. A death certificate was tendered to the magistrate and the charges discontinued against him. The two defendants, Ramdass and Roopnarine, were present in court when the verdict was delivered and requested two weeks from the court to pay the fine. Counsel objected on the ground that the fine was lenient taking into consideration the statutory fine was three million dollars. The Magistrate refused their request and instructed that the fine would have to be paid immediately or they would be imprisoned. The defendants failed to pay the fines and were subsequently taken into custody but were later released after the fines were paid”, the GEA related.
It said that since the implementation of the Fuel Marking Programme, the GEA has seen a rise in the number of charges being instituted. It said that there have been two cases of individuals pleading guilty to offences and being ordered to pay a fine of three million dollars. The agency said that this was evident in the cases of GEA V. BISHNARINE PERSAUD and GEA V. IMRAAZ SOOKRAM.
The agency said that on June 10, 2011, it was once again successful in the matter of GEA v. JOHN DORIS at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court. There, Magistrate Natasha Hatmin, found Doris guilty of the offence of Possession of Illegal Petroleum. A fine of five hundred thousand dollars was imposed. The release said that Doris was previously charged with being in possession of 135 gallons of illegal diesel and mixed gas. The matter was prosecuted by Special Prosecutor, Euclin Gomes.
Further, the GEA said that Magistrate Mc Gusty, on September 20, 2011 at the Charity Magistrate’s court convicted Akbar Mohamed of being in possession of illegal petroleum. Mohamed, of New Road, Charity, was on the 22nd of March, 2010 charged with being in possession of 265 gallons of illegal petroleum. The Magistrate subsequently fined him $150,000. GEA was represented by Special Prosecutor, Gino Persaud.
The agency said that there are twenty-six prosecutions ongoing in the courts throughout Guyana.
