Three men who allegedly broke into Guyana Stores Limited (GSL) via the roof and stole a large number of items valued at over $1 million were yesterday refused bail by Magistrate Cecil Sullivan.
Keoma Tait, 18, of 7 New Market Street, South Cummingsburg, Kurt Dickson, 19, of 131 Fourth Street, Kingston and Devon Clarke, 21, of Fort Street, Kingston all pleaded not guilty to break and enter and larceny at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that between February 17 and 18 they broke and entered Guyana Stores Limited and stole 10 pairs of boots, 7 deodorants, 23 DVD players, 10 suitcases, men’s boxers, and other items to the total value of $1,616 691, property of GSL. The men are said to have broken into the store through the roof and carted off the stuff. The police surrounded them in a car and the articles were recovered.
Attorney-at-law Sonny Sarwan who represented the three told the court that the men have been in custody since Sunday and the police have already recovered some of the articles. He asked the court to take these things into consideration and grant the men bail. He gave addresses for the men and stated that their parents would ensure that they attend court. He added that the men were on their way to play football when the police who were on patrol saw them. The police, he said, surrounded a vehicle that his clients were in and searched it before arresting them. The driver of that vehicle, the counsel said, was released.
Police prosecutor Sherwin Matthews responding asked that bail for the men be refused as it was a serious and prevalent offence. He stated that Clarke was before the court for a similar offence a month ago and all three of the men were found with the items. He continued that the addresses given by counsel for the men were different from those in the police file. He said therefore that the men had no fixed place of abode. He added that the three accused were grown men and the court cannot rely on their parents to bring them to their trial.
After listening to both sides the magistrate refused bail and transferred the men’s case to Court Three for March 12.
