GUYANA Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) prosecutor, Sherwin Crandon, who was accused of taking a $300,000 bribe to dismiss a case against a miner, was, on Tuesday, released on $150,000 bail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Crandon denied that he, on May 19, 2021, at a bar in Kitty, Georgetown, being a prosecutor employed with the GGMC, corruptly obtained $300,000 from Viveka Singh as an inducement for forbearing to prosecute and to cause the matter to be dismissed against her for illegal mining, an act in relation to his principal affairs.

According to the prosecution, Singh, in 2019, was charged for illegal mining by the GGMC. It is alleged that on the date mentioned in the charge, Singh received a call from Crandon pertaining to the dismissal of her case.

She alleged that Crandon requested that she pay him a sum of $300,000 cash in exchange for having her case dismissed. The conversation led to an arranged meeting on the said day, at a bar around 16:00 hours. Singh informed the police about the discrete transaction which resulted in the organisation of a sting operation. Çrandon was arrested and a search was conducted on his person where the $300,000 cash was allegedly found. He was told of the allegation and placed into custody.

The matter was adjourned until June 8, 2021.