– Not in Canada as previously thought
AESHWAR Deonarine, the former Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of the Guyana Power Light, has disappeared off the radar.Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan told reporters on Wednesday that Deonarine is not in Canada as was previously thought.
The Minister said Canadian Police have been unsuccessful in locating Deonarine “but we now understand that he is not in Canada.”
Asked if he has any idea as to where the former GPL DCEO is currently, the Minister said, “I don’t know.”
“I am certain he will go back to Canada, and under the Mutual Assistance Act they may very well send him back… [But]I don’t know where he is.”
Under the Mutual Assistance Act, Guyana can seek assistance under the legislation to Commonwealth territories to locate a person believed to be involved in or was involved in criminal activities. Section 8 (1) of the Act applies to where reasonable ground exists that a person is in a commonwealth country and is or might be concerned in or affected by any criminal matter; or could give evidence or assistance relevant to any criminal matter.
Sub-section 2 speaks to a request which may be made to the Commonwealth country to assist in locating that person or if the person’s identity is unknown, in identifying and locating that person.
In February, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told reporters that the wanted former GPL Deputy CEO is in Canada and efforts were afoot to seek his extradition to Guyana. In fact, the Guyana Police Force had said that it has contacted the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to assist in locating Deonarine.
Deonarine is wanted in connection with fraud. It is alleged that the former DCEO, along with President of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) Carvil Duncan obtained $27.8M of GPL’s money.
The duo is accused of stealing money from the power company by paying themselves bonuses and transferring funds into their personal bank accounts without the approval of the board of directors of the company.
Charges of conspiracy were laid against Deonarine earlier this year but were withdrawn. He was charged with Duncan for conspiring to commit a felony. Duncan was alone in court to defend his charge while Deonarine fled.
The money was discovered missing after auditors were examining GPL’s accounts relative to the PetroCaribe Fund.
