A 58-year-old man accused of stealing $75,000 from a young man was on Wednesday placed on $50,000 bail when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts.
Stephen Braithwaite, a father of two of 257 Craig, East Bank Demerara denied that on June 24 at Georgetown he stole $75,000 from Davindra Kumar. His attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat told the court that on the day in question, the complainant was playing a game of “three-cards” and lost and as a result, said that his money was stolen. The lawyer contended that Kumar’s money was not stolen and said his client vehemently denies the charge leveled against him.
However, Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that on the day in question at about 1pm, the virtual complainant (VC) was walking along Demico House on Croal Street when he saw a $1,000 on the ground, picked it up and gave it to an identifiable male standing at a table. Moments later, Mangru said, the VC was surrounded by two persons who pushed their hands in his pocket and relieved him of $75,000.
The court heard that on the following day, the VC went to the Brickdam Police Station to enquire about his matter when he saw the defendant there and positively identified him to the police as one of the persons who had relieved him of his money.
Fung-a-Fat told the court that his client was willing to pay the VC compensation in the sum he alleged was stolen. This was paid over in court.
The chief magistrate then informed the accused that he would be admitted to bail in the sum of $50,000 and ordered him to return to court on July 11 for statements before the commencement of the trial. She also told him that in mitigation, the compensation paid over to the complainant would be taken into account if and when the time comes for sentencing.
