GRA Fires Employees Over Vehicle Transfers Linked to Sanctioned Businessman Azruddin Mohamed

The Guyana Revenue Authority has terminated the services of several employees, including a manager, over allegations that they conspired to transfer motor vehicles registered to Azruddin Mohamed, despite his indictment and sanctions for alleged fraud, customs violations, and money laundering.
In a press statement, the Revenue Authority said the employees acted in concert to transfer ownership of the vehicles to other individuals, in direct violation of statutory procedures and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act.
Working in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, GRA said it has initiated proceedings against Mr. Mohamed and the implicated terminated staff.
Quoting the AML/CFT Act, the agency stated: “A person commits the offence of money laundering if he knowingly or having reasonable grounds to believe that any property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of crime—converts or transfers property knowing or having reason to believe that property is the proceeds of crime, with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of that property.” Moreover, section 3(4) of the said act explicitly states that “For the purposes of this Act, it is not necessary for any person to be convicted of a serious offence to prove that property is the proceeds of crime.”
Responding to the allegations, Mr. Mohamed said he sold and transferred eleven vehicles, and maintained that all transactions were legitimate. The vehicles included a Toyota Fielder Wagon, a Land Cruiser, and a Toyota Crown.

$700,000 Bail for Driver Charged in Diamond Fatal Accident

A 28‑year‑old Diamond resident, Shawn Sergeant, was today placed on $700,000 bail after being arraigned on a single count of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving in relation to a fatal accident that claimed the life of 33‑year‑old DDL employee Jason Bhojedat on Sunday.
Sergeant appeared before Magistrate Delon Bess at the Diamond Magistrates’ Court, where he was not required to enter a plea since the charge is indictable. His driver’s license has been suspended, and he was granted pre‑trial liberty and ordered to report to the Little Diamond Police Outpost twice weekly. The matter is scheduled to return to court on February 26th for a report.
According to police, Sergeant—a labourer and owner of motor car PKK 6633—was attempting to overtake when he rear‑ended minibus BAK 8702, driven by Bhojedat. Passenger Christopher Samaroo was also in the minibus, which is owned by a resident of East La Penitence.
Bhojedat was flung from the vehicle on impact and pronounced dead at the scene. Sergeant and Samaroo were both treated at the Diamond Hospital for injuries sustained and later discharged.