Former Gold Board accountant charged with fraud, theft from entity- released on $300,000 bail

Jul 19, 2018 News

The Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the Guyana Police Force, has unearthed fraud-related activities and even theft at the Guyana Gold Board. As a result of its investigations, Rosanna Ramnarine, a former employee at the State entity was yesterday charged and placed before the courts. She was slapped with six charges—all of which alleged that she stole monies and engaged in fraudulent activities during her tenure there.
Ramnarine, 35, a mother of one, of Lot 46 Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara was arraigned before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where she pleaded not guilty to all charges.
She was released on a total of $300,000 bail, after her Attorney-at-Law Jed Vasconcellos made a successful application.
Particulars of the first charge alleged that between February 1, 2017 and April 30, 2017 at the Guyana Gold Board located at Lot 68 Brickdam, Georgetown, while being employed as a clerk or servant, Ramnarine willfully and with intent to defraud, falsified documents in possession of the Guyana Gold Board – that being payment voucher #80782, purporting to show that Edward Hopkinson received a payment of $336,207, on March 21, 2017.
The second charge read that between April 30, 2017 and June 20, 2017, also at the Guyana Gold Board, she willfully and with intent to defraud, falsified documents in possession of the Guyana Gold Board – that being payment voucher #81475, purporting to show that Brian Chase received a payment of $288,582, on May 30, 2017.
According to the third charge leveled against her, between April 30, 2017 and June 30, 2017, while being a clerk or servant, she stole $288,583 – monies in possession or power of the Guyana Gold Board, her employer.
It was further alleged that between February 1, 2017 and April 30, 2017, while being a clerk or servant, she stole $336,207 – monies in possession or power of the Guyana Gold Board, her employer.
The fifth charge brought against her stated that between February 1, 2017 and April 30, 2017, with intent to defraud the Guyana Gold Board, she conspired with a person or persons unknown, to forge Guyana Gold Board payment voucher #80782, dated March 21, 2017
And finally, it is alleged that between April 30, 2017 and June 30, 2017 with intent to defraud the Guyana Gold Board, she conspired with a person or persons unknown to forge Guyana Gold Board payment voucher #81475 dated May 30, 2017.
The Police Prosecutor presented no facts in relation to the charges. The defendant’s lawyer told the court that his client has been fully cooperating with investigations being conducted by SOCU.
According to the lawyer, the matter has been engaging the attention of the police since November last year.
Counsel added that since then, Ramnarine has made several visits to SOCU headquarters at Camp Street, Georgetown.
The lawyer further added that Ramnarine, who is an Accountant by profession, has been unemployed since she was dismissed from duties at the Guyana Gold Board.
The prosecutor made no objections to bail and Magistrate Azore granted bail to Ramnarine to the tune of $50,000 on each of the six charges. Her total bail stands at $300,000.
As a condition of bail, Ramnarine was also ordered to lodge her passport with the court and to report to SOCU headquarters every Friday until the hearing and determination of the matter.
She will make her next court appearance on Monday.

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