Even though she had accumulated $400 million in raw gold and concealed it at her Mahaica home, Bibi Acklema Goberdhan is not being investigated by the authorities at this point in time.
The multi-million dollar theft which was only reported to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) three weeks ago is currently being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). To date, a total of eight suspects including a father and son were charged in relation to the crime.
The incident is suspected to have occurred sometime between December 2021 and January this year.
Observers had raised questions as to why the woman stored such a large amount of gold at her premises. It is unclear how long before the theft Goberdhan had the gold stored at her home but such an occurrence would usually attract a broad spectrum of investigations.
Two of the suspects, Satrohan Seegobin and Bhaloonauth Seegobin allegedly found the gold while conducting repairs on Goberdhan’s home.
The police had said Goberdhan had contracted the men to undertake repairs on her home. During the work, they allegedly found the gold and divided it among themselves. The men subsequently went on a shopping spree.
The Gold Board Act makes it illegal for persons who are not producers to have raw gold in their possession and stipulates that it must be sold to the Board or to any agent authorized in writing by the Board.
Chapter 7(1) of the Gold Board (Amendment) Act 2019 states “a person, not being a producer, who has a quantity of gold in his possession which exceeds one ounce shall, within seventy-five days of the coming into operation of the Guyana Gold Board (Amendment) Act 2019, sell that gold to the board or to any agency authorized in writing by the board”.
Sources close to the investigation told Stabroek News that Goberdhan and her family are producers of gold. They reportedly have mining operation/s of their own. It had previously been believed that Goberdhan was storing gold belonging to another dealer.
A reliable source indicated to this newspaper that the price of gold had dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and Goberdhan had taken a decision to keep the gold so that she could get a “better” price for it at a later date. “They held the gold until they reached a point to sell it,” one source said.
However, the source explained that Goberdhan experienced a further delay in selling the gold after being “trapped” in the interior for more than a year.
The source explained that since Goberdhan is a miner, she would have had to have production sheets upon selling the gold.
In light of the circumstances, the source said questions would then be raised as to whether there had been a timely declaration of the gold.
This would have to be determined by the relevant authorities such as the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Gold Board (GGB).
However, Stabroek News was told that the GGMC is not involved in the investigation.
Contacted last week, Chairman of the GGB, Dr Gobind Ganga said that based on what was indicated to him, Goberdhan claimed that she obviously did not have the opportunity to sell the raw gold after it was stolen.
“The person is stating whatever she had, they stole so she can’t bring it to the Gold Board. Whatever she had remaining she took to the gold board or whatever she recovered she took to the Gold Board,” Ganga told this newspaper.
Asked why she was allowed to keep such a large quantity of raw gold in her possession, Ganga said there is “an amount” of gold which can be taken to the Gold Board at one time. “Nobody can’t prove…..you might want to think that she had the gold a long time…..Gold Board really can’t do anything…You can’t really prove anything that way,” he said.
Other agencies
Apart from the ongoing police investigation into the theft, it appears as though Goberdhan is not subject to any investigation by agencies such as the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) or the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).
When contacted last week, Head of SOCU, Fazil Karimbaksh told Stabroek News that he knows nothing about the matter. “I don’t know anything about that matter. You got to contact CID (Criminal Investigation Department),” Karimbaksh said.
Meanwhile, Director of the FIU, Matthew Langevine said that he was unable to disclose whether Goberdhan is being investigated by the unit.
He said that the FIU cannot share information on who or what is subject to any of its investigations.
The FIU’s mandate is to facilitate the detection, prevention and deterrence of money laundering, and financing of terrorist activity in Guyana.
Stabroek News had previously reached out to Goberdhan for a comment on the theft. However, she refused to divulge any information.
Police had said Goberdhan accumulated the gold at her Mahaica property over the years.
During the investigation, the police did not only arrest and charge several suspects but were able to recover some 98 ounces of raw gold and $6.6 million in cash.
Eight vehicles and other articles, including a gas stove, a washing machine, carpets, a dining set, a television and a stereo set, were also seized as part of the probe. It is believed that these items were purchased by the suspects with the proceeds of the crime.
The Seegobins of Farm, East Bank Demerara (EBD) were the first to be charged in relation to the crime.
Satrohan pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment while Bhaloonauth denied the allegation and was remanded to prison.
A number of other suspects were arrested and questioned as part of the probe. They include two subordinate officers from Berbice who were subsequently placed on open arrest.
On Monday, two other suspects: Sabautaro Singh called ‘Mark Singh’ or ‘Pappy’, 22, a labourer of Herstelling Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Bisram Paul called ‘Marlon’, 44, a taxi driver of Parika Backdam, East Bank Essequibo were charged jointly with the theft.
The suspects were not required to plead to the indictable charge and were released on $150,000 bail each.
Prior to this, three suspects: Deo Kissoon called ‘Lolly’, 23 of Herstelling Sea Dam, East Bank Demerara (EBD), Daniel Ethon, 24, of Lot 30 ‘B’ Elijah, Corentyne, Berbice and a 17-year-old of Farm Squatting Area, EBD, were also charged jointly in relation to the crime.
They too denied the allegation. Kissoon and Ethon were placed on $150,000 bail each, while the teenager was released on self-bail.
A fourth person, Raleigh Bernard, 36, of Coverden, EBD was charged with obtaining money by false pretence from Goberdhan. He denied the charge and was also placed on $150,000 bail.
