Aubrey Norton and his wife, Martina Seepersaud, have been convicted of money laundering and sentenced to four years in prison. The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Rushell Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges originated in 2021, initiated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), which found that the couple acted as agents for Accelerated Capital Firm Inc., an unlicensed entity engaged in financial securities operations. The investigation revealed that Norton and Seepersaud illegally solicited clients to invest in forex trading, earning commissions in the process.
SOCU’s findings indicated that the couple transferred GD$53.5 million as part payment for a property located at La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara (ECD), with the objective of concealing the illegal origins of the funds. The prosecution presented a robust case that included testimonies from investors, cash collection evidence, large cash property transactions, and employment records.
The court learned that Norton and Seepersaud purchased the property for $70 million, making a down payment of GD$53.5 million. Evidence showed they secured investors at a 10% commission while earning a combined monthly salary of $175,000.
During the trial, the defendants led their defense, testifying that they were never employed by Accelerated Capital Firm Inc. and had no financial means to purchase the property in question. They maintained a stance of complete denial regarding the charges.
However, Magistrate Liverpool found the defenses untenable, stressing that the court could not ignore the consistent and independent testimonies from multiple witnesses, including legal representatives.
The court focused on several key issues: whether the defendants transformed property as per the AMLCFT Act, whether the prosecution proved that the GD$53.5 million was indeed the proceeds of crime, whether the defendants knew or had reasonable grounds to believe that the funds were illicit, and if the transfer aimed to conceal the money’s origins.
Magistrate Liverpool concluded that SOCU had gathered an overwhelming amount of credible and coherent evidence, clearly establishing the defendants’ guilt in the money laundering offence.
