$600,000 in evidence money goes missing in court

Jan 10, 2012 News

– stallholder wants it back

Over half a million dollars held as evidence disappeared from a court cupboard last month and a Stabroek Market stallholder wants his money back.
The police had seized the money in July from a number of persons accused of breaking into the stall of Hemchand Balram.
Of the $1.4M in local and Canadian currencies stolen, police were able to recover $465,000 and C’dn $700. The evidence money was in the custody of the court, temporarily located on Middle Street. On December 19 it was found to be missing.
Police then started to question a number of court employees, including the Chief Clerk, Mohamed Bacchus.
According to an upset Balram, he had closed his stall for a few days in July and had the money secured there. He later discovered that the money was gone. He lost $800,000 in local cash, C’dn $2,000 and US$600.
Investigations revealed that a number of his close associates had stolen the keys to the stall from his home and had used them to enter the stall.
The police later arrested three persons and placed them before the courts. One of them was found with $465,000 in local cash and C’dn$700.
Balram said that it was this money that was lodged as evidence at the court.
Kaieteur News on December 20 last had reported the incident of the missing money.
A court official yesterday confirmed that the money went missing and that the Registrar of the Courts had written the Chief Clerk warning that it was his responsibility.
This newspaper understands that the case was being handled by former Magistrate Fazil Azeez and that the money was stashed in a cupboard by the Chief Clerk. It is unclear if this is the norm for evidence held in the courts’ custody as this newspaper was unable to make contact with the Registrar.
However, the Chief Clerk on December 20, last, discovered the money missing from the cupboard.
He later, reportedly, claimed that he was not the only one that had access to the cupboard.
According to the stallholder, yesterday he learnt that the money was missing when he called the police to enquire why a woman whom he suspected was an accomplice in the theft has not been arrested and charged as yet.
“The policeman tell me that he has something to say…that the money is missing. This has nothing to do with me. I want it back.”

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