A Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) prosecutor was reportedly caught receiving $300,000 from a gold miner to dismiss a case that dates back to 2019.
GMMC prosecutor, who has been identified as 44-year-old Sherwin Crandon of George Street, Werk-en-Rust, is currently in police custody.
In a press statement on Thursday, the Guyana Police Force said the sting operation was set up after the gold miner informed police investigators at CID Headquarters, on Wednesday, that the prosecutor was soliciting $300,000 from him to dismiss a case involving illegal mining at Blackwater, Mahdia, for which he was charged in 2019.
“The gold miner said the suspect then gave him a location to meet him (a popular bar in Station Street, Kitty), and the date being 19th May, 2021 and the time being 16:00 hrs,” the police said, while noting that it was then that the sting operation was set up.
At around 16:30hrs on Wednesday, a party of policemen, acting upon information received, arrested Crandon. He was found with $300,000 in his pocket. Crandon was told of the allegation, arrested and placed into custody.
“The suspect admitted that he is a Prosecutor at GGMC and he was prosecuting an active matter against the gold miner at Mahdia Magistrate Court, which was being tried at the Diamond Magistrate Court. He admitted that he indeed collected the money from the gold miner, but claimed that he wanted to “borrow” same,” the police disclosed. The suspect was escorted to the Brickdam Police Station and placed into custody. The exhibit (money) was photographed in the presence of the suspect and then lodged at CID Headquarters.
