The two men involved in a fraudulent scheme to steal millions from a Berbice jeweller were charged and brought before the court on Friday, facing serious criminal charges.
Paramdeo Victor, 37, of Rosignol, Berbice, and Cornell Taylor, 45, of Ithaca, West Berbice, were both charged with Simple Larceny, Contrary to Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act Chapter 08:01.
In addition to the larceny charge, Victor was slapped with a separate charge of ‘Making a False Report,’ after he admitted to staging the robbery.
The men appeared before Magistrate Wilson at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court at 10:00 hrs, where they were not required to enter a plea. The Virtual Complainant (VC) requested no evidence be presented against the accused after receiving a partial reimbursement of the stolen funds amounting to $2.15 million.
The magistrate granted bail for both men in the sum of $150,000 each, and the matter has been adjourned to December 13, 2024. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is expected to offer legal advice on the case moving forward.
In a separate proceeding, Paramdeo Victor was fined $30,000 after pleading guilty to the charge of giving false information, under Section 200 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 08:02. He opted to pay the fine or face 18 months in prison.
Victor’s arrest on Wednesday followed an elaborate scheme to stage a robbery and steal millions of dollars intended for a jeweller. According to police reports, Victor falsely claimed he had been robbed by three masked gunmen while transporting $10 million from a cambio in Georgetown to a jeweller in Berbice.
Victor had initially reported the robbery to the Mahaica Police Station, telling officers that the gunmen had forced him off the road and stolen the cash. However, following an in-depth investigation and further questioning, police began to suspect that Victor’s story was fabricated.
Victor eventually admitted to staging the robbery as a way to pocket the money. He then led police officers to his vehicle, where $2 million in cash was discovered hidden inside.
The following evening, police followed Victor to his home in Rosignol, Berbice, and uncovered an additional $6 million hidden inside a washing machine. However, the remaining sum, approximately $2.25 million, is believed to be with his accomplice, Cornell Taylor, who is still at large.
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