Three men were fined and a woman had the charge against her dismissed after they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday charged with stealing a $580,000 Yamaha engine.
Rolex Williams, 17; Reon De Santos; Tony Rampersaud, 20, and Scarlett Gonsalves, 21, were all read the charge which stated that between March 31 and April 1 at Itiban Landing, Cuyuni River, they stole a 75hp Yamaha engine valued $580,000, property of Daniel McKenzie.
While Williams, De Santos and Rampersaud pleaded guilty to the charge, Gonsalves, who only spoke Spanish, pleaded not guilty with the aid of an interpreter.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that on the day in question McKenzie, who is a businessman, had secured his boat and engine at the landing then discovered sometime later that the engine was missing.
The matter was reported at the station and the police, acting on information arrested 3 of the four accused.
Jones added that when questioned the accused took the police to the hotel where they were staying and the police found the engine in question in a room Gonsalves was in. According to the prosecutor, the police took possession of the engine and further investigations were carried out, which led to the accused being charged.
Before the magistrate gave her decision Rampersaud stated that Gonsalves did not know anything about the stolen engine and that she was not involved.
When asked by the magistrate why he stole the engine he stated that he was out of a job and because of hard times.
Williams, De Santos and Rampersaud were fined $30,000 each or in default, eight weeks imprisonment. The case against Gonsalves was dismissed.
Magistrate McLennan ordered that the engine be returned to McKenzie.
