A cook who works at Mahdia was placed on $75,000 bail yesterday when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with break and enter and larceny at a Mahdia business place.

Derrick Persaud, 30, of Mabaruma, Region One initially pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the shop of Imran Khan between August 26 and 27 and stealing a quantity of cell phones  and other articles valued $366,000. However, after listening to Persaud’s explanation, Magistrate Robertson entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

In giving his explanation, he told the court that on the day in question he had gone to the bus park to get transportation to travel to Georgetown when a man went up to him and told him that he had several articles to sell.

He said that he bought four phones from the man for $30,000 and was given a receipt for the sum.

He added that while he was travelling in the bus, the conductor saw him with the phones and asked where he got them.

He then told him he had bought them from a man.  At the Mabura Police Station, officers conducted a search of passengers’ luggage and  they found the phones.  He said that he showed the officer the receipt that was given to him by the man.

However he said that the receipt was torn by the officer who told him that he was in possession of stolen phones and would be charged.

Persaud said that he told the police about being sold the items by a man but they told him they did not have time to search for him.  Further, he stated that he had $54,500 on him when he was taken into custody but later on the police said that they only had $27,000 lodged for him.

He begged the magistrate to help him get back his money.  He told her “I work hard for my money. I want you see I’m innocent and be lenient with me.”

Meanwhile Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford said that a store at Mahdia was broken into and information was received that the accused was seen selling cell phones at the bus park. However when ranks went in search of him, it was found that he had left the area.  The police at Mabura were contacted and this later led to the arrest of Persaud who at the time had the phones and $28,000 in his possession.

The prosecutor did not object to bail and the matter was put down for October 13 at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court.

Persaud was then granted bail and after he raised concerns about the money he had lodged at Mabura Police Station and recovering the entire amount, Magistrate Robertson told him to take a lawyer who would look into his interest.