Keon Browne, a farmer, was yesterday sentenced to a total of six years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to two separate charges of break and enter and larceny.
It is alleged that on the night of November 22 at Brooms Estate, Mabaruma, North West District, Browne, of Brooms Estate, broke and entered the dwelling house of Hulan Mentis with intent to steal and therein stole a quantity of items amounting to $100,000 belonging to Mentis.
The second charge read between November 22 and 23 at Kumaka Waterfront, North West District, Browne broke and entered the shop of Ramroop Naipaul and stole therein a quantity of food stuff, amounting to $84,500.
Browne pleaded guilty to both charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Courts.
According to Prosecutor Deniro Jones, Browne was involved in a similar offence three years ago.
Jones told the court that Naipaul has a shop at Brooms Estate and on November 22 about 22:00 hrs he secured his shop and went to his residence some distance away. Upon returning on November 23 he observed the shop door open and various articles missing. The matter was reported and investigations led to Browne being charged. The articles were recovered.
In the case of Mentis, he secured his home on November 22 and left to sell food at Kumaka Landing. Upon returning around 4:30 hrs he discovered his home broken into and various items missing. He made a report and Browne was later charged.
Brown during his explanation told the court that someone else had placed the stolen items in his yard. “My Worship, he said, “to be honest I don’t indulge myself in these things. I does work for me own money. The police never come to me, I went to them. They end up asking me about the things and then say I get away in the bush. I have no idea about anything. I went and tell the police myself these things was in my yard and they get it back. Everything the man bring in me yard they get back.”
After listening, the magistrate sentenced Browne to three years imprisonment on both charges which will run concurrently. The recovered items were also ordered to be returned to the virtual complainant.
