Two men were yesterday remanded to prison on a charge that they broke into offices of local wireless communications security service provider El Dorado Communications and stole $12M in local and foreign currency.
Christopher Da Costa and Rayon Edinboro, who police say were captured on surveillance video footage, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on a joint charge of break and enter and larceny.
It is alleged that between February 2 and February 4, at Mandela Avenue, they broke and entered El Dorado Communications and stole GYD $10M, USD$10,000 (equivalent to GYD$2M), a safe valued at $66,000, two Acer laptops and an Asus laptop, valued at $100,000. The money and the other stolen items belonged to Tyrone Williams, who is the owner of the business.
Da Costa, 20, of 73 Princes Street, Lodge and Edinboro, 23, an upholsterer of 74 Princes Street, Lodge, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them. Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick said that Williams had secured his business premises, located at XX Mandela Avenue, and upon returning on February 4 he discovered that the articles mentioned in the charge were missing.
Bostwick further told the court that the accused were caught on surveillance camera footage. He said that they were later arrested and charged.
Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat appeared for the two men and asked for them to be released on bail.
Fung-a-Fat claimed Da Costa was in the interior when the robbery occurred. He also noted that his clients were never placed on an identification parade (ID) and that the articles were never found on them.
He added that Da Costa had an assault case before the court some three years ago, while Edinboro has no pending matters or previous convictions.
But Bostwick objected to bail, while noting the seriousness of the offence and the punishment it attracts. He also pointed out that it the defendants are to be granted bail, they might not return to court to stand trial. As a result, bail was refused and the case was adjourned until March 22.
