Two teen miners appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann Mclennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday charged for stealing a quantity of gold and cash belonging to their employer.
Cadeem Baily and Malcolm Payne, both 19 years old, were remanded to prison on a charge of breaking and entering and larceny.
Baily, of Shell Road, Kitty, Georgetown, and Payne, of Houston, Greater Georgetown, pleaded guilty and not guilty respectively when the allegation was read to them.
Police stated that on February 23, 2020, the duo broke into the dwelling house of Kennard Dhanraj and stole a quantity of gold amounting to over G$1.1 million, G$123,000 in cash and a gold band valued G$30,000.
Facts presented stated that Dhanraj secured his house on the day in question and went to transact business. Upon his arrival back home, he was greeted by a ransacked house and upon checking, he discovered the articles were missing.
A police report was made and the teenagers were later arrested at Mabura checkpoint, Region 10. A quantity of the stolen items was recovered.
In an explanation to the court, Bailey shared that he was employed by Dhanraj, who refused to pay him for his labour after the mining dredge was shut down.
The defendant added that he is the sole breadwinner for his family, and would be met with violence whenever he approached the victim for his money.
As such, a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
Both defendants were, nevertheless, remanded to prison until March 5, 2020.