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The seven suspects who have been charged by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in connection with the largest seizure of assorted liquor in the history of local Customs made another court appearance for their trial on Thursday last.The summary trial is taking place at the Providence Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Priya Seenarine-Beharry.The seven, Joseph Sahadeo, aka Daddo; Mark Chandra; Shawn Ali; Madhu; Umbar Angad; Krishnadath Ramdin,Cheap Jerseys Online, aka ‘Pokeman’ or ‘Krishna’, and Vinod Bhagwandin have all pleaded not guilty. An eighth suspect, Delroy Neil Samaroo, is still at large.On Thursday, the prosecution continued their case with Canter owner/driver Cecil Bumbury concluding his evidence-in-chief and he was cross-examined.Prosecutor, Gino Persaud, has led two other witnesses — Trevor Arthur, the owner of a truck that was allegedly hired by two of the accused,Authentic NFL Jerseys Wholesale, and Canter truck driver Carl Jackson.Sahadeo and two other suspects were absent this time. This newspaper understands that Sahadeo has been continuously absent.His sister appeared on Thursday and told the court that he had the flu. The matter has been fixed for continuation on October 24.The accused have all been charged with dealing in goods with intent to defraud the revenue of duties, contrary to the Customs Act, and being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of Customs, contrary to the said Customs Act.The charges brought by GRA against the eight individuals were read for the first time on April 27, 2007,Andrew Desjardins Jersey, at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.The charges allege that the defendants, on February 14, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, were knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of import duties of Customs in relation to a large quantity of smuggled assorted liquor conveyed on the MV Lady Kimberly and of which a certain portion was discharged at Rambaran’s Wharf, Land of Canaan, onto waiting Canter trucks and minibuses.Sahadeo has also been slapped with an additional charge of hiring a person to assist in the evasion of Customs laws contrary to Section 204 (3) of the Customs Act.The $70M bust led to the seizure of MV Lady Kimberly, a modified fibre-glass trawler, a 14-ft aluminium boat equipped with a 15-horsepower engine,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, three enclosed Canter trucks, a minibus,Wholesale Authentic Jerseys, and one AT192 motor car.More than 4,000 cases of Heineken beer; 500 cases of assorted liquor, including Grey Goose,Adam Joseph Duhe Dolphins Jersey, Bailey’s, Tequila, Hennessey, Absolut Vodka (assorted), Black Label Whisky, Johnny Walker Whisky; and more than 300 cases of Red Bull were among the seized items. These were believed to be for ‘high-ranking’ businessmen and were shipped from St Maarten.An additional charge was read to Vinod Bhagwandin on August 2, 2007 and he was granted $300,000 bail after he answered to the charge at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs.Bhagwandin pleaded not guilty to the charge of hiring a person to assist in the evasion of Customs laws contrary to Section 204 (3) of the Customs Act.The particulars of the charge alleged that Bhagwandin, on or around February 13 at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, hired the driver of a minibus, BHH 3977,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, to convey a quantity of uncustomed assorted liquor from Rambaran’s Wharf at Land of Canaan.Ramdin and Bhagwandin are also on $300,000 bail in connection with a 2005 seizure of Heineken Beer.They are jointly charged with Robert Ramdas and Arjune Persaud who were also granted the same bail.The charge concerns dealing with goods with intent to defraud the revenue duties thereon contrary to Section 218 (d) of the Customs Act.The particulars of the charge allege that the men, on or around November 18, 2005, at Lot 18 Temple Street Ogle, East Coast Demerara, were in possession of and dealing with 1,217 cases of uncustomed Heineken Beer with intent to defraud the revenue of duties thereon.This newspaper understands that the beer was being stored in the bottom flat of the aforementioned building. |
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