Minibus driver in court for stealing woman’s gold rings

TIMES INT'L

A minibus driver was remanded to prison by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton for allegedly stealing a woman’s gold rings.

Richard Craigen, 30, of 66 Broad Street, Georgetown, made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday, August 4, to answer to the charge of simple larceny.

He was not required to plead to the charge, which stated that on July 13 at Georgetown, he stole four gold rings valued Gy$500,000 and one shoulder bag valued Gy$23,000, bringing the total value to Gy$523,000 from the virtual complainant (VC) Chickere Stewart.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Frank Fraser, who made an application for bail, stating that he was informed that the VC does not want to proceed with the matter. He said it was clear that the matter would not proceed to trial, a statement to which the magistrate replied in the negative.

The defendant, at that moment, told the court that he no longer required the services of Attorney Fraser, stating that he would represent himself. He then made an application for bail, stating that he is the father of five children for whom he is the sole breadwinner. He stated that he currently has one other matter before the court, and that he has been attending court regularly and is not a flight risk.

The defendant explained that the VC in this matter made a report to the police stating that she did not see the person who had stolen her rings, but rather that she was told that it was him.

Police prosecutor Vernette Pindar objected to bail on the grounds that the defendant has current matters before the court and it is likely that if he is granted bail he would commit the same offence again. In relation to the claims made by the defendant, the prosecutor told the court that the defendant contacted the VC and told her certain things which lead to his arrest.

The magistrate told the defendant that every time he is released on bail he returns to the court. The magistrate then informed the defendant that bail would be denied this time.

The defendant was remanded to prison until October 18, when he would make his next appearance in Court One.

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