Last month, Australia’s Perth Mint prompted an internal investigation after it became aware of a missing one-kilogram gold bar.
The mint’s security team determined the gold bar was stolen and contacted the Gold Stealing Detection Unit of the Western Australian Police. The missing gold was given a value of $52,457 AUD (about $53,100 Cdn.).
On April 11, police searched the home of a 25-year-old man in Ballajura—a suburb just north of Perth—where a one-kilogram gold bar was discovered. The man was a former contractor at the Perth Mint Refinery.
10-YEAR PENALTY
The former contractor was charged with stealing as a servant as well as gaining benefit through fraud. He appeared before the Perth Magistrate’s Court on May 5. Police allege the thief stole the gold bar while working on contract at the mint’s refinery; however, the investigation is ongoing.
According to a story published by The West Australian on May 6, the defendant was granted bail. The maximum penalty for stealing as a servant is 10 years in jail.