Police officers accused of switching a GBP 200,000 gold ingot with a worthless copper replica are under investigation in Peru.
The original was one of two seized during a raid on an alleged illegal mining operation and taken back to police headquarters in Lima.
Evidence photos of the ingot show how it apparently underwent a remarkable change during six months at the Peruvian Criminal Investigation Directorate headquarters.
In an original snap from the raid in July last year (2023) the ingot, with an evidence exhibit number of 5833.1, seemed identical to its twin seized at the same time.
But after six months in storage, it seems to have changed shape and colour and is in a new wrapper with the same number but in different handwriting.
Tests apparently showed the ingot had been replaced with a copper replica worth just PEN 170 (GBP 35).
Colombian businessman Kevin Valencia Munoz, who owned the ingots, believed the gold was switched at the Peruvian Criminal Investigation Directorate’s 14th-floor office.
Valencia Munoz says official police documents about the raid are inaccurate and hide a missing 30 minutes when he believes the switch was made, according to local media.
UK Royal Mint’s Gold Bar For Holy Month
He said: “They took me to a place at the back of the 14th floor to take some photos and that’s where I see that they once again sealed the wooden boxes.”
His lawyer Carlos Condori claims police knew in advance that his client would be transporting two gold bars and conspired all along to steal one of them.
He told local media: “What we believe is that there is a criminal organisation, made up of police and prosecutors.”
Seven officers are under investigation by the Peruvian Public Ministry.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
