A young couple was yesterday accused of stealing over $1M in jewellery.
Travis Marks, 21, of Lot 58 Friendship Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara and Colene Boyer, 18 of Lot 31 Friendship Squatting Area, pleaded not guilty to the simple larceny charge read to them at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
It is alleged that between June 30th and July 1st, at Takutu Backdam, North West District, the duo stole a quantity of gold jewellery, including chains, bands and rings, amounting to a total value of $1,273,000. The jewellery belonged to Anita Phoenix.
Marks and Boyer were represented by attorney Dexter Todd, who explained that Marks is known to the victim as she would work with her in the backdam.
Marks was said to be a miner/assistant at a small scale gold company.
According to Todd, Marks would take gold items from Phoenix and other workers to Matthews Ridge. However, he said, there was some disagreement between the man and Phoenix as to how he would be paid and he had voiced his concerns about his payment before he decided he would still continue to work with her.
He said Marks would normally go alone to complete the transactions but during the period in question Boyer, his girlfriend, accompanied him since she wanted to visit her mother who resided at Matthews Ridge.
Todd further told the court he does not know why the victim would want to think Marks wouldn’t return with her money but she contacted the police, who later located the two accused and arrested them. The court also heard from the attorney that all the items were recovered and returned to Phoenix and that Marks had no intention to be dishonest or to go away with them. Todd also questioned why Boyer was charged, since she never had any transaction with the victim neither was she employed with her at any time. She was only staying at the same camp with Marks, he pointed out.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones had no objections to bail but ask for it to be a substantial amount if granted.
As a result, each defendant was placed on $75,000 bail and the matter was transferred to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for July 27th.
