Godfrey Greene, who washes vehicles for the police at the Brickdam Police Station, was yesterday charged with stealing 25 loaves of bread from the police mess hall.
He was sent on his own recognisance by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The police are alleging that between February 12 and February 13, at the Brickdam Police Station, Greene stole from the police mess hall (kitchen) 25 loaves of bread, valued $1,126, property of the Guyana Police Force.
The labourer, whose appearance was dishevelled, denied the larceny charge when it was read to him.
When given a chance to speak by the Magistrate, Greene said that he had been washing vehicles for the police at the location for the past five years and stressed that he did not steal the bread. “I am well known around the police and I won’t do something like that to them,” he said.
The defendant said that although he has always been washing vehicles for the lawmen and would at times not receive payment for the job, they have never had problems with him and so he expressed surprise that they would level such an accusation against him.
According to the accused, he is not restricted from entering the different buildings in the station’s compound since he is well known to the police. As a result, he said, he had fallen asleep in the mess hall on the day of the incident but never stole any bread.
When asked how long he had been in custody, the accused responded about 14 days. The Magistrate then bashed the prosecution for the man’s lengthy and unconstitutional detention. She said too that the rank who instituted the charge should be disciplined. “This is a grave abuse of power,” the Magistrate said.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that the rank who had instituted the charge had left for home and had returned on Monday after which the man was taken to court yesterday.
After listening to the case, the Magistrate informed Greene that he would be admitted to self-bail.
