A security guard, accused of stealing fish he was supposed to be watching over, yesterday told a city court that it was given to him.
Alfred Hanif, 45, is alleged to have stolen 29 pounds of Grouper fish and 10 pounds of Red Snapper fish, valued $60,000, on August 10. The stolen fish was the property of Singh’s Seafood.
Hanif, of Lot 4 Princes Street, Werk-en-Rust, works as a security guard at the Ruimveldt fisheries complex.
He accepted the charge when it was read to him but Magistrate Fabayo Azore subsequently entered a not guilty plea on his behalf after he explained that he had not stolen the fish but that they were given to him.
Hanif, who was unrepresented by counsel, said that the owner of the items had left them for him with the understanding that he would have paid subsequently.
Hanif said that he was later observed on surveillance cameras removing the fish and a report was made against him, which led to his subsequent arrest and charge.
He added too that he never removed the amount of fish stated in the charge; only a significantly smaller amount.
The prosecution had no objections to Hanif being granted bail, which was set at $45,000.
The case will be called again on October 3.
