After being caught on camera stealing from his former employer, a taxi driver yesterday attempted to escape the judgment of a court by offering compensation.
However, Mohamed Shace’s attempts to persuade his former boss to accept repayment were rejected and he is to go to trial. The charge against Shace, 52, states that between December 4 and December 5, 2014, on Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, he stole 30 pounds of welding wire and 40 pounds copper wire, equivalent to $106,000. The wire was the property of Balkarran Sookhoo, who is the owner of Riverview Welding and Marine Supplies, on Saffon Street.
Shace, when asked by Magistrate Annette Singh to enter a plea after the charge was read to him, told the court he was guilty but had an explanation
According to him, another man, who is still employed with Sookhoo, was involved in the conspiracy. “I don’t know how I get taken up in this; is me and a next individual but I don’t know, somehow, I get ketch pon the camera,” he said.
The court heard from Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick that Sookhoo secured his property on December 4 and left it intact. However, upon making checks the next day, he discovered that the wires were missing. He then proceeded to observe the footage recorded by his security camera, which captured Shace removing the articles. He subsequently made a report to the Ruimveldt Police Station, resulting in Shace’s arrest.
Shace, who lives at 488, Section ‘C,’ Block ‘Y,’ Golden Grove, pleaded with the court to repay Sookhoo and have the matter finished since he was already imprisoned over the weekend. He said too that he has to provide for his family.
However, Sookhoo refused to accept compensation. After his repeated pleadings to repay for the wires were refused, Shace changed his plea to not guilty.
Prosecutor Bostwick objected to bail, citing the strong evidence of the video footage, which positively identified Shace removing the items. Bostwick also noted that a level of trust was broken between the Shace and Sookhoo, who once shared a good relationship.
However, Shace was granted bail, which was set at $50,000. It was reduced to $40,000 after he begged the magistrate for a reduction, while saying he was the sole breadwinner of his home and could not afford the initial amount. His trial will commence on January 29 in Georgetown Magis-trates’ Court 11.
