A construction worker, who told the Court that the $2M which he was accused of stealing from his boss was in fact repayment for a loan he had given, was on Thursday remanded to prison after being charged for embezzlement.
Twenty-seven-year-old Ravindranaught Rambajue, of Suddie Housing Scheme, Region 3 (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
He was arrested two days ago at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) while heading to Dominica.
The Police stated that on August 21, 2018, at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, while being a clerk or servant of Amir Samad, he fraudulently embezzled a sum of $2M; which was taken into possession by himself on the account of his employer. Rambajue pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by the Chief Magistrate.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the Court that the defendant was employed by Samad for the past five years and that on the day in question, the victim wrote a Republic Bank cheque for $2M and handed it over to the defendant with the intention of him returning the money within a few months.
However, after the agreed time elapsed, the victim made several calls to the defendant’s phone but all went unanswered. Samad then reported the matter to the Police.
The Prosecutor added that on June 25, 2019, the defendant was arrested at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) while attempting to board a flight destined to Dominica.
An investigation was done and he was charged with the offence following advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Rambajue, in addressing the Court, stated that he was working for the victim for several years and that Samad had owed him $3.1 million.
He further added that he threatened to leave the job and that is when his boss paid him $2M and asked him to stay.
However, after listening to the case presented by the accused, the Prosecutor strongly objected to bail being granted because of the serious nature of the allegation and the time it took to locate the defendant.
The Prosecutor also highlighted the fact that at the time of the defendant’s arrest, he was attempting to leave the country. On those grounds, the Prosecutor believed that if bail was granted, the accused would not return to Court for the trial.
The magistrate, after listening to both sides, remanded Rambajue to prison until July 4. The matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Courts.
