PARAMARIBO – One of the biggest buyers of gold in Suriname, Ourominas, has been caught by the authorities siphoning foreign currency to Brazil. Between January and March the firm managed to get US$ 1.7 million out of the country illegally. The police had arrested three people, but they were released after paying hefty fines. Police PR Officer Humphrey Naarden tells de Ware Tijd that it is not unlikely that there are more of similar cases. Ourominas has simply been caught by the police and the Economic Inspection Department (ECD) which have been conducting investigations in the past two weeks. ‘Since it involves an economic crime, the offenders are given the option for an out of court settlement,’ Naarden explains, adding that US$ 100,000 in fines were paid. De Ware Tijd learnt from reliable sources that the offenders are the firm’s financial administrator, a lower employee and a Chinese who was in charge of the transfers. ‘People who sold their gold to the company refused to be paid locally. The firm then arranged for the money to be transferred to Brazil without authorization from the Foreign Currency Board,’ a high government official, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells de Ware Tijd. Authorities have kept the police action under wraps fearing the offences might be part of a larger plot involving mafia-like practices. One of the offenders had asked for police protection for his family now that the case is in the open, the source says. In the meantime the investigation is still ongoing. The police do not know how long these offenses have been taking place. The law states that citizens may have up to US$ 10,000 in their possession when traveling. For transactions the rules are stricter: any amount higher than US$ 1,500 has to be reported to the authorities if there is no validation by the Foreign Currency Board. Ourominas has had transactions between US$ 600,000 and 800,000. The firm is back in business.
