ORISVALDO De Oliveira Moura and Sabastiao De Oliveria Moura, both Brazilian nationals, were, on Friday, charged by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) for failing to maintain and produce gold records as required under the Guyana Gold Board Act, Chapter 66:01.

Orisvaldo De Oliveira Moura appeared at Georgetown Magistrates’ Court #11 before Magistrate Rabindra Nauth Singh, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge. He was granted bail set at $100,000. His case was transferred to the Port Kaituma Magistrates’ Court for a report on August 15, 2024. Sabastiao De Oliveria Moura appeared at Georgetown Magistrates Court #1 before Magistrate Faith McGusty, where he also pleaded not guilty. He was placed on $50,000 bail, and his matter was adjourned to August 16, 2024.
According to the Head of SOCU, the defendants are brothers operating under a registered business with three locations: Georgetown, Eyelash Backdam, and Port Kaituma Water Front, North West District, Region One.
Reports indicated that these locations were buying precious stones without maintaining the requisite records. Consequently, ranks from SOCU, in collaboration with officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, conducted searches on the business premises. They discovered a large quantity of gold and cash, for which the defendants could not produce relevant documentation.
The defendants were arrested, and the police seized all the items. Further investigations were conducted, leading to the charges against the brothers.