It was only after the $941M alleged fraud at the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) was reported to police and the Bank of Guyana that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) began a review of information it had on the transactions of gold dealer Saddiqi Rasul and the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) began investigations of money laundering, sources say.
“Through the (Guyana) Gold Board and the Bank (GBTI) the FIU was getting recommendations that the man was selling an extraordinary amount of gold and had large transactions,” a source close to the investigation told Stabroek News.
“With FIU… you do not know if they (are) acting on any of the information received because it is not like they say anything, but only after the fraud was reported that they requested more information and got actively involved,” the source added.