top of page

Duo charged with accessory after murder over Arimu Backdam $37M gold heist


Travis Fredericks, a 32-year-old miner of Lot 287 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), and Fernando Fredericks, a 28-year-old miner from the same address, have been charged with accessory after murder.


The charge stemmed from the murder of Zaheer Sheriff, a 50-year-old dredge owner, and his porter Donovan Washington. The duo, who are brothers, appeared separately before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed in the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.


While they were not required to plea to the charge, they were remanded to prison. The case is slated to be called again on April 25, 2024, for disclosure. 


MTV News Update reported that on March 03, 2024, Sheriff “washed down” 102 ounces of raw gold valued at $37 million and left his camp with Washington, on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) en route to Bartica.


However, five minutes after Sheriff left, his General Manager, Joel Stephen, 39, told crime sleuths that he heard several loud explosions, which he suspected to be gunshots.


As a result, he said he went to make checks in the area, and about 500 meters away from the camp, he found Sheriff and Washington lying in the trail with gunshot injuries about their bodies.


L-R: Donovan Washington and Zaheer Sheriff

He also said that he observed that both of Sheriff’s firearms - a .32 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun and his gold were missing. He later made a report to the Bartica Police Station.

Police arrived on the scene, and Sheriff’s body was examined. Police said he was shot in his right upper chest, upper right thigh, upper right arm, and left upper back.


On the other hand, Police said Washington was shot to his lower abdomen, left chest, left shoulder, left hand, and left elbow, with four wounds to the right thigh, two to the left thigh, and one to his back.


The scene was processed, and one .32 magazine with eight live matching rounds, seven 9mm spent shells, and three .32 spent shells were found.

bottom of page