MR. SHADEER Hassan, cattle farmer of West Bank Demerara, most ridiculously and most stupidly lost $1.3M.
While the bank’s management and procedure seem to be a serious cause, by failing to pay him at the Vreed-en-Hoop location, and possibly by a bank’s employee alerting a criminal accomplice. The entire story reeks of suspicion and conspiracy. The bank should have a ‘Polygraph/Lie detector’, to capture the culprit. It is not unusual for banks in USA, etc. to use Lie detection machine as a guide to capture dishonest persons in sensitive industries. It has been used by the Customs and Anti-Narcotics Unit in Guyana.
I know of cases when money disappeared in night deposit boxes or from bags, in part or in total, which only stopped when I made a big hue and cry in the printed and electronic media. The employees handling the night bags were actually stealing and manipulating cash. I called on the people to demand that the banks provide adequate security, switching of employees, installation of cctv cameras just over the night deposit chutes, and a mechanism in the shoot that will record the time, date and number of transactions, concomitant with the cctv and its timer. The losses and thefts by the bank’s employees stopped-period.
All security services had sustained losses, and when I had approached them to publicise the matter, one large scale bulk cash transfer security service, hesitated to cooperate just because of his cash transfer business, despite his several losses. So instead of using the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations, of which I was president at the time, I went alone, using my name only and my security service’s name, and did an all out battle and publicity action using the media to maximum effect.
The head of the non-cooperating agency later called and thanked me, and on many occasions when conversing would compliment me for the foresight. I risked my company’s name and brand, and took personal risks to raise the issue, and for calling on the police, numerous times, to arrest the bank’s employees as well, instead of the security officers alone. The police always and sadly have the temerity to only arrest security personnel, and dealing with the banks’ employees as if they are holy cows.
In one instance, a bag disappeared at Rosignol, then NBIC, but the police investigator said the bank is not cooperating by providing its employees. Since when do the police need permission to arrest a bank’s employee?  Just wait outside at closing time and arrest the offending employee or group-that is all. Despite complaints and guidance, it was never done, much to my annoyance; I believe there was a dishonest group at that bank’s branch. My point is this:  all institutions have some dishonest people, and none should be treated as holy cows.
The banks only call in police when things are exposed, or when they lose enormous sums, merely concerned with saving their names, so many cases go unreported, and the employee just gets fired.  This thieving conspiracy involving Shadeer Hassan reeks of complicity with bandits and bank staff.
But another point annoys me, as a security service provider, this man could have saved his money, and not undergone all that pain had he employed an armed security escort, uniformed or undercover, by paying $3,000 to $10,000 for an armed escort or vehicle accompaniment. So many people lose hundreds and millions and many millions upon millions, for being stubborn, and not wanting to pay a $3,000 – $10,000, or more or less according to the need to safe guard the person’s life and money. One has to be realistic and preserve one’s hard earned wealth. Most security services even have insurances to protect the money in event of a heavy attack. This man could have lost his life also. I believe even if one has to withdraw cash of $150,000 or whatever amount, a $3,000 investment could save so much. And please, never let a taxi driver take you to the bank unless he is a personal friend.
I believe that Mr. Hassan is as responsible for his loss as the possibility of the bank’s employee(s) conspiracy. While the police offered to help with escorts free of charge, it is commendable but an impossibility considering all factors. I think Mr. Hassan should take this matter to the High Court for redress as they refused to pay him his money they were keeping at the Vreed-en-Hoop branch. They have no right to dispatch him to Georgetown to be robbed.