Miranda returns to Paris after some surprising news about the guru Gregorian Bivolaru.

This episode contains sexual content, allegations of sexual exploitation and some strong language.

Host: Cat McShane Producers: Emma Weatherill and Cat McShane Sound design: Melvin Rickarby Production Coordinator: Juliette Harvey Unit Manager: Lucy Bannister Executive Producer: Innes Bowen Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke Commissioning Executive: Tracy Williams

World of Secrets teams are working on new investigations. Now you’ve finished listening to The Bad Guru, we are preparing six more seasons. Also, we have updates on previous investigations, including The Abercrombie Guys and Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods.

Follow or subscribe now, so you get all future seasons and episodes.

World of Secrets is the global investigations podcast from the BBC: Uncovering stories around the world and telling them, episode by episode, with gripping storytelling.

It was the biggest gold mine fraud of all time – a scam that devastated countless lives. But what really happened? Suzanne Wilton revisits the story that she just couldn’t let go of, to find answers about how the scam was perpetrated…and about the mysterious death of a geologist in the jungle. From the BBC World Service and CBC.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam was first published in May 2024.

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

It’s gold fever. Estimates put the Bre-X discovery at four times the size of the biggest known gold deposit — and investors are trying to cash in. A small Canadian town is swept up in the gold rush. But others are asking questions, including a hedge fund manager who goes to extraordinary lengths to get inside the Indonesia gold site.

Since this episode was recorded, John McBeth has sadly passed away. We are very grateful for his contribution to this story.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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

As the value of the Indonesian gold discovery skyrockets, it’s not just everyday investors who want in. Powerful players are drawn into the fight for the gold in Busang. But Bre-X, a small company, has only ever traded as a penny stock. Can it stand up to powerful rivals and play in the big leagues?

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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

World of Secrets presents, The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam. Bre-X’s new partners visit the Indonesian gold exploration site and make a shocking discovery. It will result in a reckoning half a world away at the mining industry’s party of the year — the Prospector and Developers Association Convention. Is the dream of a billion-dollar gold mine about to shatter?

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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

On the ground at the Busang exploration site, the dream is collapsing and Bre-X geologist Michael de Guzman is needed for some major questioning. But where is he? As the hours tick by and he fails to arrive at Bre-X's site, news of a tragedy spreads. Those involved in the gold discovery need to get out of Indonesia and fast.

Since this episode was recorded, John McBeth has sadly passed away. We are very grateful for his contribution to this story.

Please note, this episode deals with upsetting scenes including suicide and contains some graphic details.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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

With Bre-X stock halted on the financial markets, the company goes into meltdown. A terrible truth emerges and a scam on an epic scale is revealed. Investors are set to lose millions and entire pension funds will be wiped out. A golden dream turns into a waking nightmare.

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

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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

The hunt to discover who was behind the six billion dollar gold scam begins, and Suzanne brings new information to light on how it was perpetrated. But who was to blame and will anyone be held to account?

Please note, this episode contains difficult subject matter, including references to suicide and death.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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

Did geologist Michael de Guzman really jump to his death from a helicopter? New information on his last day alive comes to light. And Suzanne tracks down details of his autopsy. Were there other forces at work? Was de Guzman’s death collateral in a larger cover up?

Since this episode was recorded, John McBeth has sadly passed away. We are very grateful for his contribution to this story.

Please note, this episode contains difficult subject matter, including references to suicide, death and descriptions of serious injury, including some graphic content.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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

A new witness comes forward with important new evidence over the fate of Bre-X geologist Michael de Guzman. The investigation takes a dramatic turn. Could Suzanne finally be close to finding out what really happened? Did de Guzman take his own life to free himself of the scam, was he murdered or did he hatch an elaborate escape?

Since this episode was recorded, John McBeth has sadly passed away. We are very grateful for his contribution to this story.

Please note, this episode contains difficult subject matter, including references to suicide and death. It includes some graphic content.

The Six Billion Dollar Gold Scam 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