Five more arrested in $2 million gold bar fraud, Toronto

The Toronto Police Service Financial Crimes Unit has arrested four people in connection with a fraud investigation relating to stolen gold bars.

It is alleged that:

– between Wednesday, February 9, 2011 and Friday, February 11, 2011 a fraudulently obtained bank draft in the amount of $1,895,751 was used to purchase a quantity of gold bars in Montreal,

– included in this purchase were 75 unique 10 oz gold bars manufactured by The Perth Mint in Perth, Australia,

– these gold bars bear the symbol of The Perth Mint, Australia, on the front with kangaroos on the back.

On Thursday, April 14, 2011, members of the Financial Crimes Unit, with the assistance of other members of the Toronto Police Service, arrested the following people:

Siva Suthakaran, 45, of Toronto, has been charged with:
1) Fraud Over,
2) Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Natasha Sukh, 29, of Ajax, has been charged with:
1) Fraud Over,
2) Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence.

Remy Boghossian, 44, of Pickering, has been charged with:
1) Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over,
2) Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence,
3) Fraud Over.

Raffi Ebrekdjian, 51, of Toronto, has been charged with:
1) Possession of Heroin,
2) Fraud Over,
3) Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence,
4) Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

Garnet Marziliano, 29, of Toronto, has been charged with:
1) Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence,
2) Fraud Over,
3) Possession of Property Obtained by Crime.

They are scheduled to appear in court at College Park, on Monday, June 6, 2011, at 2 p.m., room 505.

Police have not located the stolen gold bars.

The Toronto Police Service would like to thank the Canadian Bankers Association, corporate investigators from various financial institutions, and members of the jewelers’ community for their assistance.

The Canadian Bankers Association is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any public information that leads to the recovery of the gold bars.

The public should be aware that further attempts to sell these fraudulently obtained gold bars may be made in the future.

Members of the public working in the jewellery and metal industry are being advised of the possibility that people may attempt to pass these fraudulently obtained gold bars at their places of business.

The investigation is still ongoing.