A city magistrate yesterday remanded three Cuban nationals to prison after they were read two charges of breaking and entering and larceny.
Police identified the accused as Daniar Pelaez, Jose Gorerva and Junior Infante, who appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at George-town.
The magistrate, with the aid of a translator, read the charges to the three men.
The first charge alleges that the defendants, between January 22nd and January 23rd, at Robb Street, broke and entered Ishant Variety Store and stole a quantity of electronic appliances and accessories with a total value of $146,000.
The second charge states that on the same date and at the very location, the trio broke and entered the Stretch Mi Dollar Variety Store and stole a quantity of tablets, five cell phones and $75,000 in cash, all having a total value of $280,000.
All three men pleaded not guilty.
Police Prosecutor Christopher Morris objected to the defendants being granted bail on the grounds that they are not Guyanese nationals and would be flight risks.
He noted that on January 23rd, police, acting on information received, went to Robb Street, where they observed Gorerva and Infante standing in front of the two stores, which are located next to each other. Morris added that the police subsequently summoned the owners of the two stores after the two men were unable to give reasons for loitering in front of the buildings. It was when the owner of Ishant Variety Store opened his store that the third accused, Pelaez, was allegedly found hiding inside with a bag filled with the stolen items from both stores.
The three men were remanded to prison by the magistrate and are expected to make their next court appearance on February 15th.
