Akeem Booker, 28, of ‘Container City’, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, appeared yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate (ag) Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus where he was charged with the theft of a car.
Booker pleaded not guilty to the charge.
It is alleged that on Sunday, September 3, at Market Street, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, the defendant stole one motorcar valued at $1.2 million belonging to Jamal Elexey.
The court heard that on the day in question at about 22.00 hours, a driver (authorised by Jamal Elexey) drove to Market Street, Ruimveldt, in the aforementioned car which he parked at the side of the road, leaving the key in the ignition. He stood about 20 feet away talking to his friend when he saw the car drive off at a fast rate.
A report was made at the East Ruimveldt Police Outpost and acting on information received, investigators went to Dennis Street, Sophia, Georgetown where they found Booker in the driver’s seat of the car. When asked how he came to be in possession of the car, he remained silent. A search was conducted on his person, and a cellphone along with $14,000 were discovered and later identified as the driver’s property. Thereafter, the vehicle was lodged at the East La Penitence Police Station for safe keeping and Booker was arrested and placed into police custody at the East Ruimveldt Police Station. When told of the allegation against him, he opted to remain silent.
The police prosecutor strongly objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant has antecedents where he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in 2018 for fraud. Also, in 2016 the defendant had confessed to burglary and was fined $50,000.
When asked by the Chief Magistrate if he had anything to say in response to the prosecutor’s statements, he told the court “Your worship, I would just like for a bail cause I ain’t thief no car.”
Bail was refused.
Booker is scheduled to make his next court appearance on October 11 for statements.
