Quacy Howes, a vendor, was yesterday remanded to prison by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine Beharry, on the charge that he broke into a store and stole $1.6 million in items.
Howes, 25, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, which heard that on June 25, at Georgetown, he broke and entered the store of Yang Lian Ji and stole 34 cellular phones, a laptop and other items, valued $1.6 million.
Howes of Lot 58 High Street, Kingston, denied the charge of break and enter and larceny, when it was read to him.
Police Corporal Venetta Pindar, who presented the prosecution’s case, said that on the day in question, the accused was found hiding in the store by City Constabulary ranks, who were alerted by the sound of an alarm which went off at the premises.
According to Pindar, at about 3 am on the day in question, the ranks, after hearing the alarm went to the 133 Regent and Cummings streets location, where they discovered the eastern window broken.
The court then heard that further checks by the ranks and owner, who had arrived by this time, led to the discovery of the accused, who was hiding in the store. Pindar said that while conducting stock checks, the owner realized the articles mentioned in the charge were missing. The defendant was later arrested and charged.
The matter was transferred to Court Five for July 13 for statements.
