McDonald Gobin and Naresh Bacchus were yesterday charged with sacrilege committed on the Cornerstone Christian Brethren Assembly Church at Harkman’s Lane, New Amsterdam.
Gobin, 33, of Smythfield and Bacchus, 32, of Timmer’s Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, were accused of breaking into the place of worship between February 15 and February 16, and removing a mixer, an amplifier, a Compact Disc player, two cordless microphones and a Yamaha outboard engine.
Police alleged that following a tip off, sleuths from Central Police Station when to Gobin’s Smythfield, New Amsterdam home, where they recovered a mixer and two microphones. Police reported that the outboard engine was not recovered and one of the suspects allegedly informed the cops that he sold the recently purchased article to a resident of the riverrain community.
The total value of the articles was given as $1,809,256.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Godfrey Platter asked for bail given the nature of the offence and the value of the stolen items. He was criticised by Bacchus’ lawyer Charrandas Persaud, who argued that prosecution did not advance any legal reason why bail should be denied.
Bacchus, his lawyer said, is a businessman, with a fixed place of abode. Gobin, who was unrepresented, claimed to be a painter, a mason and scrap iron collector.
The men were each placed on $200,000 bail by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo.
The case is fixed for hearing at the New Amsterdam Court on April 8 for report. Meanwhile, the men are to make a recorded visit each Monday at Central Police Station, pending their court hearing.
