A 33-year-old man, who admitted that he stole a quantity of construction equipment from Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), was ordered to pay a $25,000 fine or spend nine months in prison, when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Marcellus Marcus of Albouystown pleaded guilty to the charge of simple larceny when Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson read it to him.

He admitted that he stole an angle iron, a jigsaw, a level and other construction equipment, totalling $15,000, property of GNIC, at Lombard Street on September 3.

Marcus said he did not steal the items but he only admitted to the offence because he did not want to waste the court’s time.

He said that on the night of the incident he had worked late and had been feeling sick so he decided to sleep at the gate in front of GNIC.

He said that he was awakened by a man who pointed a gun at him and accused him of stealing the items mentioned in the charge.

He went on to say that he was taken into a room, beaten and later handed over to the police who then arrested him. He said that all the while he did not have any of the construction equipment in his possession.

“Look I is a sick man, I could hardly lift ma foot so how I gon fetch all dem things,” Marcus said.
The prosecution then stated that Marcus was caught in front of the gate of the company and he was the only one around when the items had gone missing.

The prosecution also noted that when the police were called in, Marcus had told them that he and two others had stolen the items.

He was then arrested and later charged.
Marcus then said that he had been before the court about four years ago for an assault matter.
The magistrate ordered that Marcus pay a fine of $25,000 or serve nine months in prison.