SIXTY-year-old gold dealer Brian Nobrega of Lot 4625 Rasville, Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Georgetown appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer a charge of stealing raw gold from a miner, and was refused bail.

Nobrega pleaded not guilty to stealing two and half ounces of raw gold, worth $500,000, from Dick Edwards on May 5 at the Stabroek Market area in Georgetown.

Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said that on the day in question, the victim and his father went to Stabroek to sell the said gold when they approached the defendant and he weighed it in their presence.

He and an accomplice subsequently made good their escape without paying the virtual complainant for his gold.
Nobrega was represented by Attorney-at-law Mr. Paul Fung-a-Fat, who told the court that his client buys and sells gold, and is denying having had any dealings with Edwards.

Prosecutor Grant successfully objected to bail for Nobrega by citing the nature and gravity of the offence. He added that the police are investigating similar matters where other miners claimed they had been robbed similarly. He also said it is likely that Nobrega would be facing other similar charges.

The case was put down to May 14.