Stating that he could not “accept” the custodial penalty for simple larceny, a man accused of stealing produce worth over $170,000 was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Marvin Brittin called Marvin Manning of Lot 160 Second Street, Craig, East Bank Demerara pleaded not guilty to a charge of simple larceny and was remanded to prison by Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It is alleged that between October 3 and 4 at Craig he stole 3,000 tangerines worth $60,000, 2,000 oranges valued at $50,000, 100 papaws worth $50,000 and 200 pounds of eddoes valued at $12,000 with a total value of $172,000, the property of Bissondial Nihaal.
The virtual complainant, who is a farmer, had left the farm and upon returning the next day he observed the defendant leaving with a bulky bag. Upon checking he discovered the items missing and reported the matter to the police. The defendant was arrested and reportedly admitted to the offence.
In court yesterday after initially pleading guilty because “is just a lil rehabilitation, I gon accept it,” Britten quickly changed his plea after being told the maximum penalty for such an offence.
“That’s too much, that’s very, very too much,” he declared. He stated that he had gone there to cut bamboo for a wedding and decided to pick some oranges. He declared that it was just a few oranges that he picked and said that he was “framed”. He further asserted that the amounts stated could not fit in a bag.
Brittin will return to court on November 1 at Providence.
