The nine soldiers, in an operation to combat illegal gold panning near Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni (West), “put pressure on illegal gold prospectors to extort gold from them”, according to a close source of the file.
A few “dozens of grams” were stolen from illegal gold miners, as well as tools present on the gold site, according to this source.
The facts date back to October 3, in western Guyana. The illegal gold prospectors filed a complaint with the police.
On October 9, the courts took up the matter and opened an investigation for “extortion”.
Placed in police custody
Placed in police custody on November 5, the soldiers admitted the facts.
The nine soldiers should be summoned to appear before the Cayenne criminal court “in the coming days,” said the attorney general of the court of appeal, Joël Sollier.
At this stage, the “procedure is locked, because we are waiting for the green light from the Ministry of Defense before going any further,” he added.
The competent Cayenne high court
The military procedure is being heard by the Cayenne High Court, which has jurisdiction since 2015 in military matters within the jurisdiction of the courts of appeal of Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana.
When contacted, the Army General Staff did not wish to “comment on an ongoing investigation, out of respect for the instructions”.
The army also did not want to reveal the unit in question, “for the sake of operational security”.
“This procedure, involving a few individuals, must in no way tarnish the image of the commitment of FAG soldiers in the fight against illegal gold panning. Every day, more than 300 soldiers are deployed in the forest to fight this scourge,” indicated the Army General Staff.
