Getaway truck driver charged with simple larceny

The truck driver who took police on a 15-mile high speed chase that originated in a dam at Glasgow, East Bank Berbice, through the streets of New Amsterdam, over the Canje bridge, through some streets of East Canje, up the Number 19 (East Coast Berbice straight road) Highway and ended at Fyrish back dam on the Corentyne Coast has been granted bail in the sum of $20,000 on a charge of simple larceny.
Truck driver Hardat Dharamdeo Sukdeo, called “Cats”, 34, of Lot 1 Reliance East Canje Berbice on Tuesday appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s court on a charge of simple larceny.
According to prosecutor Inspector Jairam Ramlakhan, the accused is alleged to have stolen a quantity of Low Grade Phosphate valued $18,282, the property of Guysuco Rose Hall Estate, on June 10, last, at Providence, East Bank Berbice.
It was understood that on the day Sukdeo who was driving Canter truck GKK 1174 was confronted by the police in the vicinity of Glasgow, East Bank Berbice.  He was stopped and his vehicle was checked and was found to contain a quantity of salt bags containing a whitish material. The accused reportedly described the contents as “Raganite”, but when questioned further he could give no explanation how he came to be in possession of the material.
He was told to drive to the station, but instead he decided to drive away, thus taking the police on a dangerous high speed chase which ended when he was cornered at Fyrish back dam.
Three other persons were also in the vehicle and were observed throwing the substance out of the vehicle during the chase. However when the truck was cornered the men escaped and only three bags of the “Raganite” were found.