$745M fuel theft: Two ex-GDF ranks, businessman secure bail 

Two former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) ranks and a businessman were on Thursday released on $300,000 bail each on a charge that they stole over $745 million worth in fuel.

Ex-GDF ranks Terry Milling, 35, of South Cummings Lodge, Georgetown; Delon Wilson, 34, of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and businessman Gangadeo Sridat, 48, of New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara all appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Grove/Diamond Magistrates’ Court.

The trio denied that between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2020, at Guyoil Terminal, Providence, East Bank Demerara, they conspired together with persons unknown to commit a felony, by stealing $745,559,430, worth in fuel, property of GDF.

Magistrate Latchman released the trio on $300,000 bail each and adjourned the case to January 27, 2022.

According to reports, Milling and Wilson were responsible for procuring fuel on behalf of the GDF from Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil). However, after an audit was done, the report showed that over $745M worth of fuel were not received.

During 2019, the GDF reported severe shortcomings with respect to the purchase, reconciliation and storage of fuel.

But a report by Auditor General Deodat Sharma found that some 887,800 litres of fuel, valued at $181.5M, were uplifted by an unauthorised vehicle during 2019.

This included 26 instances where 2,000 gallons of gasoline were uplifted for the Coast Guard Headquarters, Ruimveldt even though the storage capacity at the location was only 1,000 gallons.

Back in September 2020, the Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar had said that allegations of unusual activity between staff of GuyOil and GDF ranks over fuel had led to a police investigation.

At the time, he said the investigation was being conducted into a $300M fraud that was discovered by the GDF around fuel supply.