A goldsmith who allegedly stole a quantity of gold jewellery and a diamond was placed on $100,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle last week at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Twenty-eight-year-old Mark Joseph of 558 Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge of larceny from the person. It is alleged that on August 29 in Georgetown, Joseph stole from Daikaran Singh a quantity of gold jewellery and a 1.5 quartz diamond, totalling $570,000 in value.

Singh stated that Joseph, who is an employee at his store, went to his home with his girlfriend. When he discovered the items missing, he told Joseph to wait but Joseph informed him that he had to do something and immediately left. He said he waited with Joseph’s girlfriend for him to return but he never did. Singh then went to the Alberttown Police Station and made a report about the matter.
When the police finally apprehended Joseph, he told them that he did not work for Singh and he had not stolen any of the items. He reportedly changed his story subsequently saying that he did work for Singh and he was going to pay him back for the items he had stolen. Singh said he never saw Joseph back after that day.

The prosecution did not object to bail. The magistrate granted bail and ordered Joseph to return to court on October 15.