–for trying to fleece local miner of raw gold

A 54-year-old Canadian businessman accused of stealing $1.3M worth of raw gold from a mining company was on Wednesday charged and released on $100,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and ordered lodge his passport at the court.
It is alleged that Elson Bettencourt on October 13 at Mousie Backdam, Potaro River, demanded from Royston Gilbert five ounces and 15 pennyweights of raw gold valued at $1.3M with intent to steal the items from Steven Chung. He denied that charge.
According to police prosecutor Arvin Moore, Gilbert is the owner of a gold-mining operation, and Chung is employed as his general manager. On the day in question, Bettencourt appeared at the mining camp and demanded that Chung hand over six ounces of gold.
Moore pointed out that when Chung refused, the defendant pulled out a rope and threatened to tie him to his car and drag him through the camp trail. As a result, Chung became afraid and handed him all the takings for that day.
Attorney Ronald Burch-Smith told the court that Bettencourt had an arrangement with Chung that he would lend him his excavator in return for half of the gold profit, a deal that the latter failed to honour.
With no objection being raised by the prosecution for the granting of bail, Bettencourt was released on $100,000 bail and had his matter adjourned until November 8.