A security officer attached to Guyana Power and Light Inc was remanded to prison when he appeared in the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of simple larceny committed at the power company.
The magistrate had ordered him to post surety in the sum of $2.5M after he denied the charge but he told the court that he could not afford any sum beyond $10,000.
Kevin Anthon, 49, of King Street, New Amsterdam, appeared to be in shock as Magistrate Chandra Sohan read the charge in which he is jointly charged with four others who failed to make a court appearance.
Police alleged that on March 15 last at Canefield, Berbice, the defendant stole seven pieces of stainless steel tubes, eleven pieces of stainless steel shaft, eleven tension nuts, four columns, thirty-six bolts and nuts, a locking tool, a bearing extractor and ten brass bushing, totaling $5,997,743 in value, property of the power company.
After the charge was read, Anthon informed the magistrate that he knew nothing about the missing items.
However, he informed the court that the thieves had entered the utility company’s compound through the back entrance and cut the fence to gain entry but other than that, “I know nothing, Sir.”
With respect to bail, the defendant informed the court that he only has his grocery money of $10,000 in his possession and could ill afford any higher amount.
But Lance Corporal Roberto Figueira, prosecuting, objected to pretrial liberty, citing the prevalence of the offence.
In addition, the prosecutor said that the suspect may not attend his court hearing if he were granted pretrial liberty.
The magistrate then upheld the prosecutor’s submission and remanded Anthon to prison until September 30.
