CANU ranks charged for theft of diamonds

Jun 29, 2023 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News

Kaieteur News – Two Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) ranks were on Wednesday charged and placed on bail in connection with the theft of diamonds from a detainee.

Twenty-one-year-old Annick Hosannah and 26-year-old Jamine Goddard made their first court appearance via ZOOM before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the No.51 Magistrate’s Court, Corentyne, Berbice.

The men both pleaded not guilty to the offence of simple larceny and bail was granted in the sum of $300,000 each. According to Guyana Police Force (GPF), bail for the CANU ranks was granted with the condition that they report every other Friday to the police. The matter was adjourned until August 3, 2023 for reports and statements

On June 23, 2023, it is alleged that Hosannah and Goddard stole the diamonds from a Suriname National, Gabriel Manichand at Skeldon, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six. The ranks had reportedly detained Manichand during a CANU operation. They arrested him for having an illegal gun in his possession. After transporting him to Georgetown, the Surinamese accused the CANU officers of stealing his diamonds. CANU handed them over to police and during an investigation it was alleged that Hosannah had sold his share of the diamonds while Goddard swallowed his. Goddard was taken to a hospital and excreted the diamonds. Police were reportedly searching for the buyers of Hosannah’s share.