A TUSCHEN, East Bank Essequibo businessman was on Wednesday freed of the charge of exporting gold without a licence, due to the investigators’ negligence.

Christopher Baldeo was charged for not declaring 29 ounces of gold valued at US$29,266 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport on March 12, 2015.

Police said that on his return to Guyana via Trinidad on March 21, 2015, he was questioned by investigators at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and admitted to exporting gold without a licence.

It is alleged that Baldeo had US$9,596 dollars in his possession which they regarded as the balance from the gold sale. The cash had been seized and a forfeiture order requested based on his admission.

The matter was before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman with evidence being read by Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt.

The magistrate noted that Baldeo was not cautioned by the police and was told he was being charged for money-laundering and not the charge which was before the court.

The magistrate’s ruling was based on the fact that the main piece of evidence in the prosecution’s case was based upon the evidence from the investigator who had a confrontation with Baldeo during which he failed to issue a caution statement to the accused.

The Magistrate ruled that the prosecution failed to prove its case and dismissed the charge against Baldeo.