A West Coast Berbice man, Hemraj Singh Pahalad of Number 11 Village, was on Tuesday committed to stand trial in the Berbice High Court before Justice Deborah Kumar‑Chetty after being charged with fraud and the theft of more than $16 million from his former employer.
Pahalad, who worked as a clerk for Ramdial Ramoutar, pleaded not guilty to three charges laid against him. The indictments allege that between February 12 and 16, 2013, he fraudulently embezzled sums of money entrusted to his care: more than $3 million taken from Sahidrul Satar and a further $3 million taken from Karamdeo Mangru, each taken for or on the account of his employer, Ramdial Ramoutar.
Additionally, Pahalad is accused of stealing large quantities of flour from his employer between February 2 and 16, 2013. The stolen goods are alleged to include 200 bags of Thunderbolt 100‑lb flour; 515 bags of 2kg flour; 311 bags of 1kg flour; three bags of high‑fiber flour; and 22 bags of self‑rising flour — goods the prosecution values at a total of GYD 10,127,995.
Represented by attorney Charlyn Artiga, Pahalad entered pleas of not guilty to all counts. Following his plea, a jury of 12 was empanelled for the trial. Justice Kumar‑Chetty addressed the jurors, instructing them that their role is to weigh the evidence presented and determine the defendant’s guilt or innocence.
State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards told the court she intends to call five witnesses, including three police officers, when the trial begins on Thursday. No date for the start of the trial testimony was provided at Tuesday’s proceeding.
