Two farmers, accused of stealing over $2 million in items, were yesterday granted bail by a city magistrate after proclaiming their innocence.
Jairam Persaud, 50, and Mahendra Sunandan, 37, were read the charge that between June and September, 2016, at Waini Backdam, Cuyuni River, they stole two water pumps, valued at $200,000, a $120,000 fuel pump, two starters valued at $90,000, a $2 million excavator, two 24-volt power batteries valued at $180,000, a $230,000 rubberised tarpaulin and three and a half drums of diesel fuel, valued at $120,000. The items, which have a total value of $2,420,000, are the property of Oslin Fiedtkou. No item was recovered, according to the prosecution.
Both men pleaded not guilty.
Bail was not objected to by the prosecution. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan subsequently granted each defendant $100,000 bail and adjourned the matter to January 20, when it will be called at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
