GNIC security guard in court for theft

Sep 26, 2008 News

Attorney-at-law Vic Puran yesterday successfully secured bail for a security guard charged with simple larceny.

The accused, John King, who is a security guard attached to the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

It is alleged that on Saturday September 20, last, he stole four welding cables valued at $100,000, property of GNIC. To the charge King pleaded not guilty.

Puran, in making a bail application, informed the court that his client had been in police custody since last Saturday.

He said that King had been brought illegally before the court since he was kept in custody far beyond the stipulated 72 hours as provided for by law.

The Prosecution could not justify why the accused was kept for so long without a High Court order seeking an extension of the period of detention.

Puran added that despite the breach of his client’s rights, his client is prepared to go to trial since the stolen items were not found on him. He then asked the magistrate to set bail at a reasonable sum since his client only earns $26,000 per month.

Police Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews did not object to bail. He told the court that the articles were recovered from the accused.

At that point Puran told the court, “Your worship, my client would have to be a donkey to be able to fetch all the items and be caught with them on his person.”

A representative from GNIC, Albert Callender, who identified himself as an internal security, gave a statement contradicting the police version of events.

According to Callender, the items were recovered but at a location in the compound. Bail was fixed at $50,000. King is expected to make his next court appearance on November 4.