Already facing five charges in a massive multimillion-dollar fraud at the Guyana Rice Development Board, former GRDB Head Ricky Ramraj and former General Manager, Jagnarine Singh were Friday slapped with 34 additional charges.

The allegations address instances of alleged fraud committed at the GRDB Cowan Street Office during the years 2011 and 2012 and involve the Board Members and other accounting staff.

The new charges were read to the duo by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and allege that the two senior employees intended to defraud the Rice Development Board by omitting to make entries into the ledger and fraudulently taking or applying to their own use monies that belonged to the GRDB.

Singh and Ramraj were not required to plea to the indictable charges but were each granted bail in the sum of $1 million.

They were also ordered to lodge their passports with the option of applying to the Court for permission to travel should the need arise.

The matter has been engaging the attention of investigators at the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) in recent months.

The initial five charges which were faced by six former GRDB Board Members totaled over $400 million.

However, these fresh charges amount to well over $500 million.

Singh and Ramraj’s Attorney, Glen Hanoman said the two men are finding it difficult to secure employment in wake of the Court matter and are now financially ruined.

He had asked for a reduction in the sum set for bail but that request was denied by the Chief Magistrate.

The Court was also told that efforts are being made to have the former Accountant extradited from a North American country and returned to Guyana to face similar charges.

The matter was adjourned to November 16th, 2017.

The Other Board Members currently facing charges of fraud are People’s Progressive Party Members of Parliament Dharamkumar Seeraj and Nigel Dharamlall, Board member Badrie Persaud and Former Ministry of Agriculture Deputy Permanent Secretary, Prema Roopnarine

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