Crime Chief refuses to return miner’s millions

Feb 21, 2009 News

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… despite order from DPP

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rutherford’s Holdings Inc., Neville Rutherford, has brought a court action against Attorney General Charles Ramson and Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, claiming in excess of $10M in damages.
The action was filed after the police raided the home of one of Rutherford’s security officers, seizing currencies which he claims belong to him, and which the police have refused to return to him. Rutherford claims that the money is being held at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eve Leary.
Rutherford in his claim is seeking a declaration that US$44,900.00, Euro 1,470, $853,000 in local currency, $829 in Trinidad and Tobago currency and £20 (twenty pounds sterling), the property of Rutherford, is in the possession of the defendants (the Attorney General and the Crime Chief).
He is also seeking the delivery of the said currencies, and damages for wrongfully detaining same, and a mandatory injunction directed to Seelall Persaud to return his currencies within 24 hours after his receipt of the order. The order was served yesterday.
Rutherford’s application to the court states that on February 12, 2009, he delivered the currencies to one of his security officers, Dennis Edwards, for safe keeping until he returned from his mining claims.
It added that on his way to Buckhall, Essequibo, he was informed by Edwards that ranks from the Guyana Police Force had raided his home and had taken away the currencies to CID.
Rutherford was also told that Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police Lord asked Edwards to state where he got the currencies, and he informed him that the money came for Rutherford.
The document stated that Rutherford was invited to Eve Leary by ASP Lord on February 12 and he went.
“ASP Lord spoke to me at Eve Leary enquiring where I got the currencies. I informed ASP Lord that I am a gold miner and also the Chief Executive Officer of Rutherford’s Holdings Inc., and that I am the owner of several mining concessions in the North West Mining District No. 5,” Rutherford contended.
He added that he also informed ASP Lord that he has been mining for gold in several of the concessions and that the gold he mined is sold to the Guyana Gold Board and Mohamed’s Enterprise.
According to the document, Rutherford was asked to prove this and produced the relative documents to show that he did sell gold to the two agencies.
“Rutherford’s Holdings Inc. and myself earned in excess of $70M for 2008 from gold mining… After speaking to ASP Lord, he informed me that he has to speak to the Crime Chief to whom he has handed over the currencies, and I should return at 3:00pm the said Thursday afternoon.”
According to the document, Rutherford returned and ASP Lord told him to return on Friday February 13 at 2:00 pm to collect the currencies because he was busy.
It also states that when Rutherford returned on February 13 he was informed by ASP Lord that the Crime Chief instructed him to get advice from the DPP in relation to the return of the currencies.
“On or about 4:45pm on Friday the 13th day of February, ASP Lord informed me that he got advice from the DPP who advised that the currencies should be returned to me… ASP Lord then informed me that he was trying to make contact with the second-named defendant (Seelall Persaud) to have him return the currencies, but he has been unable to do so, and I should return to Eve Leary on Monday the 16th day of February, 2009, to collect the money.”
According to the document, on Sunday February 15, ASP Lord visited Rutherford at his home and informed him that he was instructed by Seelall Persaud to get details from him about his expenditure for the year 2008.
“I informed ASP Lord that I have no intention of giving him any details about my expenditure, and he then informed me that I should visit him at Eve Leary on Monday the 16th day of February, 2009.”
It added that on Monday Rutherford visited Eve Leary and spoke to ASP Lord who informed him that he was going to visit the Guyana Revenue Authority and he will make contact with him. Lord never did.
“The currencies were kept by me for the purpose of purchasing an excavator to use on my mining concessions and also to finance my mining operations.
The cost of the excavator is in excess of $25M. I do not launder money and the second-named defendant is acting unlawfully by detaining the currencies.”
Rutherford contends that Seelall Persaud has no authority or legal right or lawful reason to continue to detain the currencies which lawfully belong to him.
Rutherford is being represented by Neil Aubrey Boston, Attorney-at-Law.
The order was granted by Justice William Ramlal.

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