A guard from the Guyana National Industrial Company was placed on $50,000 bail after he appeared in court charged with the theft of four welding cables from the company.

John King, 51, of 311 Arcadia Village, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Magistrate Melissa Robertson.

The prosecution said yesterday that the cables worth $100,000 were found on the person of the accused. Defence counsel Vic Puran stated that his client must have been “a donkey” to fetch around the cables. He said that King was brought to court illegally since he was in custody since last Saturday which is over the mandatory 72-hour period.

Puran further said in his bail application that his client posed no flight risk and is willing to defend his case. He asked the magistrate to consider reasonable bail since King works for a small salary.

Meanwhile Andrew Callender, internal investigator at GNIC, represented the company. He said that the cables were found thrown in a part of the compound.

The matter continues on November 4.