Man accused of stealing $4.9M in gold from employer remanded

Rudolph Braithwaite
Rudolph Braithwaite

A 32-year-old father of two will be spending Christmas behind bars after he was remanded on charges of fraud and embezzlement including the theft of $4.9m in gold.

It is alleged that Rudolph Braithwaite, between April 27th and June 7th at Imbaimadai Landing, Mazaruni River, with intent to defraud, obtained a quantity of mining equipment and food items valued $313,000, the property of Davika Persaud by falsely pretending that the items were bought on the account of his employer Rutherford Holdings Inc.

Another charge stated that Braithwaite, between January 1st and February 28th, obtained a quantity of goods and fuel valued $580,000, the property of Grant Ally, by falsely pretending that the items were bought on the account of his employer Rutherford Holdings Inc.

It was further alleged that between December 1st 2017 and July 9th 2018, Braithwaite fraudulently embezzled, that is to say, he stole from his employer Neville Rutherford, 19 ounces of raw gold valued $4,997,000.  

Braithwaite pleaded not guilty to all of the offences.

Police prosecutor Stephen Telford objected to bail being granted. The prosecutor further stated that based on information received, the defendant left the location in July after committing the offences and never returned. Prosecutor Telford also pointed out that Braithwaite gave the police a different address than the one he gave to the court

Magistrate Faith McGusty remanded the man to prison until March 19th 2019 when the matter will be called at the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court.