Former Gold Board employees slapped with fraud charges

Two former employees of the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) were on Monday slapped with charges of manipulating documents in order to scam the entity of its revenue.

Rosanna Ramnarine, 34, who is the former Accountant of the GGB and of Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara along with 50-year-old Deborah Forbes, the former Clerk, of Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman and denied the three charges.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that between January 1, 2017 and February 28, 2017 at the Guyana Gold Board located at Lot 68 Brickdam, Georgetown, they willfully and with intent to defraud, falsified documents in possession of the Guyana Gold Board – that being a payment voucher, purporting to show that Clinton Alphonzo received a payment of $436,409, on January 24, 2017.

The second charge read that between January 1, 2017, and February 28, 2017, also at the Guyana Gold Board, the duo willfully and with intent to defraud, falsified documents in possession of the Guyana Gold Board, purporting to show that Brian Chase received a payment of $436,409 on January 24, 2017.

The third charge stated that they stole $436,409 from the Gold Board.

The women were represented by Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, who made an application for bail.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris made no objection for bail but requested that their passports are lodged and that they report to the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU).

Magistrate Latchman released the women on $450,000 bail each and adjourned the matter to August 27.

The Prosecutor informed the court that SOCU investigated the missing monies and the two were arrested.