A man charged with multiple counts of larceny, who alleged that he was beaten in the presence of the police, was on Friday refused bail when he appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It was alleged that between May 25 and 27, 2024 at Stabroek Market, Georgetown, Cordel Eastman, in the company of another, broke and entered the stall of Mohamed Hoosein and stole 12 ZTE cellphones valued $120,000, a quantity of silver jewellery valued $300,000 and $420,000 cash.
It was also alleged that between the same dates he broke and entered the business stall of Romelia Derandy and stole 31 cellphones valued $894,500, 21 Fire Sticks valued $470,000 and other items totalling $2.7 million in value.
It was further alleged that he also broke and entered the business stall of Clifton Emptage and stole a quantity of silver jewelry valued at $300,000.
The prosecution objected to bail stating that there were more charges likely to be brought against the accused and that he also has a pending armed robbery charge.
Eastman’s attorney Stacey Goodings told the court that her client was beaten repeatedly in the presence of various police officers and was denied calls to an attorney. She told the magistrate that he sustained multiple injuries and was bleeding through his ear when she visited him at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
The attorney also told the court that Eastman was beaten till he passed out and that police officers placed him to stand against a wall and gave him a book to hold to the side of his head after which they repeatedly cuffed the book.
The investigating rank informed the court that Eastman had visible injuries when they picked him up.
Goodings asked for the medical to be presented at the next court hearing as well as all diary entries from the time her client was arrested. She also told the court that the police confiscated the gold band her client was wearing and it was not returned.
Magistrate Daly told Goodings that she was not inclined to grant her client bail. However, she recorded the names of the police officers and took the photos given to the court by Goodings into evidence.
The magistrate asked that the prosecution prepare the information for the next court date which was set for June 28, 2024.
