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Embattled gold dealer asks court to return seized guns
The High Court has ordered the police to explain why it revoked several firearm licences for embattled gold dealer, Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul.
Rasul, a Bartica businessman, was last month slapped with six fraud charges of obtaining over
Businessman, Saddiqi ‘Bobby’ Rasul
$950M from the Bartica branch of the Guyana Bank For Trade and Industry (GBTI). This has become a high-profile case that has dragged in a number of state agencies and has also sparked money laundering investigations against him.
The police, about two weeks ago, asked him to hand over several weapons, including pistols, shotguns and rifles–over 30 of them. The licences of the guns, which were registered to a security firm owned by the businessman, were also revoked.
However, Rasul last week through his lawyers, Nigel Hughes and Stephen Roberts, approached Chief Justice (ag) Roxanne George, who granted orders against Commander of ‘F’ Division, Rabindradat Budhram and Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, to appear in court and explain their actions.
According to court documents, the judge granted an order or Rule Nisi of Certiorari for the Commander to show cause why his decision to revoke the firearm licences should not be quashed as a decision which was arbitrary, unfair, without legal basis, ultra vires, null and void for reason that the applicant has not been accused of breaching any of the conditions of the licences nor has the applicant been accused of breaching any rule or regulation when called on to show cause why his licences should not be revoked.
The court further ordered an order of Rule Nisi of Certiorari to Budhram, the Commander, to show cause why his decision to revoke the firearm licences on the basis of non-compliance with the rules and regulations governing the issuing of firearm licences should not be quashed as a decision which was unfair, ultra vires and in breach of the rules of natural justice.
The matter was adjourned to May 17, 2017.
Rasul, a prominent gold dealer, was arrested and charged early last month after he was accused of spearheading a massive fraud on GBTI.
He allegedly deposited a number of cheques drawn on an account he had at Citizens Bank to his account at GBTI at Bartica.
However, the branch manager at GBTI Bartica failed to carry out the necessary checks to ensure that the Citizens Bank account had funds.
Over a period of days, Rasul’s employees and others withdrew over $950M.
It was later reported that a few days before those deposits, Rasul allegedly knew that Citizens Bank had closed his account because of suspicious transactions.
GBTI has since sent home the manager. The loss is equivalent to almost three-quarters of the annual profit for the privately-controlled bank.
The fraud sparked an investigation into Rasul’s transactions at the Guyana Gold Board where it was reported that Legal/Compliance Officer, Suzanne Bullen, had helped to form Rasul’s gold dealing company, SSS Minerals, back in early 2015.
The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the police is reportedly also looking into possible collusion between Rasul and GGB staffers.
In addition to Bullen, General Manager, Lisaveta Ramotar, and her deputy, Andrea Seelochan, have been sent on administrative leave.
Several vehicles, documents and other items were seized from Rasul, his staffers and persons close to him. The raids were carried out in the Bartica, Charity and Georgetown operations of Rasul and his partners.
The case has riveted the attention of the nation because Rasul is alleged to have laundered billions of dollars via a gold mining company, R. Mining, through his sales to the GGB.
In three months alone late last year, the Guyana Revenue Authority reportedly lost almost $100M in taxes.
GGB has denied that it was responsible for checking where Rasul got his gold from.
Rather , reports were sent to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.
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