1. The fall

World of Secrets presents The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam. Bre-X geologist Michael de Guzman is the man of the hour. He’s responsible for one of the biggest gold discoveries in the world, deep in the Indonesian jungle. It’s a find that sends Bre-X stock prices soaring to stratospheric heights. So his apparent death — a dramatic fall from a helicopter flying to the gold site — sends shockwaves around the world. Did he jump? Was he pushed? But the days following his death will prove even more shocking.

Please note, this episode contains difficult subject matter, including references to suicide and death. The series has references to suicide and some graphic content.

This podcast was first published in May 2024.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam is made by BBC Scotland Productions for the BBC World Service and CBC

Presenter: Suzanne Wilton

Lead Producer: Kate Bissell

Producers: Anna Miles and Mark Rickards

Research: Tom Hinckley

Story consultant: Jack Kibble-White

Music and Sound design: Hannis Brown

Additional Sound Design + Audio Mix: Joel Cox

Executive Editor: Heather Kane-Darling

CBC Senior Producers: Veronica Simmonds and Willow Smith

CBC Executive Producers: Chris Oke and Cesil Fernandes

BBC Commissioning Senior Producer: Anne Dixey

BBC Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel