A minibus conductor who allegedly stole a gold band from another was yesterday admitted to $50,000 bail when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The allegation is that on August 25 at Georgetown, Leslie Smartt stole from the person of Thakur Mahendranauth one gold band valued $119,000, property of the said Thakur Mahendranauth.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of larceny from the person when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.

Smartt in his response to the charge said that he was wrongly accused and believes that it is a case of mistaken identity on the part of the virtual complainant (VC). He went on to say that on the day the incident reportedly occurred he was in Berbice and could not possibly have been the perpetrator of the unlawful act.

Prosecutor Stephen Telford had no objection to the accused being granted bail and later made a request that a date be set for reports.

When given a chance to respond, the virtual complainant told the court that all he wanted was to have the defendant return his band.

Smartt was later granted $50,000 bail and ordered to return to Court Ten on September 1 for reports.