A man who reportedly stole an empty barrel was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Gavin McKenzie of 278 Crane Housing Scheme pleaded not guilty to a simple larceny charge when he appeared before Magistrate Fazil Azeez.

It is alleged that McKenzie stole a blue plastic barrel valued $5,000 the property of Philomena Jaikarran early yesterday morning at the Vreed-en-Hoop Squatting area. He was reportedly caught at 1.30 am by the Virtual Complainant’s (VC) son with the barrel on his back and was carried to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police station. Police Prosecutor Ramsahoye Rambajue informed the court that McKenzie had appeared in court before on a charge of stealing two black tanks.

McKenzie, while denying that he stole the barrel, declared that it was not the property of the VC.

After listening to them the magistrate remanded McKenzie to prison and set the matter for next Monday at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.