A merchandiser was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared at the George-town Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing over $1M from the owner of Sunshine Taxi Service.
Deochand Singh, 45, of Lot 16 Foulis, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge of simple larceny when acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read it to him.
He denied that on July 15 at Commerce Street he stole $1, 075,000 from Khemraj Singh.
Singh stated that the defendant had travelled with his taxi service for two months and during that time he had indicated to the defendant that he was interested in obtaining another car.
He said that the defendant told him that he had a friend who was selling a car and he could get him to sell it to him at a reasonable price.
He said that the defendant told him that the friend said that they should meet him at the Berbice car park to hand over the money for the car.
He said that on the day in question he was seated in his car with the defendant awaiting the friend’s arrival when “ah decided foh stretch meh legs.”
He said that as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle the defendant snatched the bag of money that was still in the vehicle and ran away with it.
He said that he gave chase after him but his efforts were futile.
He said that between July 17 and 25, the defendant called him from Suriname and “tell me that he would shoot me and that I is a young man and that I should let de money go.”
However, the defendant stated that after the alleged incident Singh called and told him he was going to teach him a lesson “because I deh stop travel with he taxi.”
He said that shortly after that he went home and discovered that his home was broken into and ransacked.
He said that he and his wife are currently living at a hotel.
The magistrate then refused bail for the defendant and ordered that he return to court on August 9.