A manager and a sub-contractor attached to Adamantium Holdings were on Monday charged with fraud for allegedly inflating the number of truckloads of laterite used to rehabilitate a stretch of road in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
Forty-four-year-old Myrvin George, an engineer/manager, of Lot 34 AA Victoria Avenue, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and 26-year-old Daniel Baker, a driver/sub-contractor, of Mahaica Park, East Coast Demerara (ECD) appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is alleged that between October 31, 2021, and December 10, 2021, at 17 Sublot A Kingston, Georgetown, with intent to defraud, they obtained $1,152,000 from Adamantium Holdings by falsely pretending that they delivered 64 truckloads of laterite, knowing same to be false. They were not required to plead to the charge.
They were released on 150,000 bail each and instructed to make their next court appearance on January 17, 2022.
The Police prosecutor told the court that Adamantium Holdings was awarded a contract by the government to rehabilitate a stretch of road from 6 Miles Bartica, Potaro Road to 19 Miles Bartica, Potaro Road.
It was disclosed that agreements were signed for the company to transport truckloads of laterite from 9 Miles Bartica to various parts of a stretch of road from 6 Miles Bartica to 19 Miles Bartica at $18,000 per truckload.
Barker would claim for the sum of money while George was tasked with reporting the number of truckloads of laterite transported. Thereafter, the company would issue payments at its Kingston, Georgetown office.
On December 14, Adamantium Holdings issued payments totaling $5,346,000 for 297 truckloads of laterite which was reported by George and claimed for by Baker. However, the company later received information that the number of truckloads of laterite had been inflated. As such, the Police were called in to probe.
Police ranks visited the site of the road project where they met one Anthony Rigby, a manager at Adamantium Holdings who is tasked with overseeing the road project. Only 87 of the 233 truckloads of laterite were observed along the said stretch of road.
George and Baker were then contacted, told of the offence committed, and under caution, they admitted to inflating the number of truckloads of laterite transported. Baker said that he would receive payments from George for inflating the numbers.
