A Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) prosecutor was taken into police custody on Wednesday afternoon after he was allegedly caught collecting a $300,000 bribe to drop a court case.
In custody is Sherwin Crandon, 44, of George Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. Crandon is a mines officer attached to GGMC but also prosecutes court cases for the agency.
According to a police report, Crandon was arrested after a gold miner visited the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary and alleged that Crandon demanded the bribe from him in exchange for the dismissal of a case which is being heard in court.
The police said that the gold miner related that he was charged by GGMC for illegal mining at Black-water, Mahdia in 2019.
He added that he was subsequently contacted by Crandon who allegedly related his willingness to drop the case if he paid him $300,000.
The gold miner further stated that Crandon then made arrangements for them to meet up at a city location where he would collect the money.
As a result, a sting operation was set up and Crandon was arrested.
A search was conducted on his person and the $300,000 cash was found in his pants pocket.
Crandon was told of the allegation which he denied.
He reportedly admitted to collecting the cash from the gold miner but claimed that it wasn’t a bribe as is being claimed but rather he wanted to borrow same.
Crandon is being processed for court.
