GGMC prosecutor accused of taking bribe granted bail

The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) prosecutor, Sherwin Crandon, who is accused of collecting $300,000 from a gold miner as a bribe to dismiss an illegal mining case, on Tuesday appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Crandon, 44, was charged with corrupt transaction by an agent of the State.

He denied that on May 19, 2021, at Seeta’s Bar, Kitty, Georgetown, he corruptly obtained $300,000 from gold miner, Viveka Singh, as an inducement for forbearing to prosecute and to cause the matter to be dismissed.

The Chief Magistrate released Crandon on $150,000 bail and the matter is adjourned until June 8, 2021.

On May 19, Crandon was arrested during a sting operation by the Police Force.

According to a police report, the gold miner visited the CID Headquarters at Eve Leary, Georgetown and reported that in 2019, he was charged by the GGMC for illegal mining at Blackwater, Mahdia.

He claimed that on May 19, Crandon called him and told him he is willing to dismiss the case if he pays him $300,000 cash, and if he did not comply, then he will be convicted for the offence.

The gold miner said the prosecutor arranged to meet him at the bar later that day at 16:00hrs. As a result, a sting operation was executed.

On the said date at 16:30 hrs, a party of policemen arrested Crandon, of George Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. A search was conducted on his person and the $300,000 in dimensions of $5,000 was found in his pants pocket. He was then told of the allegation, arrested and placed into custody.

Under caution, Crandon admitted that he is a Prosecutor at GGMC and he was prosecuting an active matter against the gold miner at the Mahdia Magistrate’s court, which was being tried at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court.

“He admitted that he indeed collected the money from the gold miner, but claimed that he wanted to ‘borrow’ same,” the Police report noted.