A 30-year-old man who allegedly broke into a workshop and stole scrap metal valued $3 million was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

The allegation is that on October 16 at Soesdyke, Cordell Barker of 431 Soesdyke Back Road, East Bank Demerara broke and entered Ideal Workshop and Factory and stole scrap metal valued $3 million.

The Canter truck operator was not required to plead to the charge when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.

Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith who represented the defendant told the court that on the day in question Barker was hired by one Mr Fordyce, who is the number two accused in the matter, to pick up some scrap metal from the workshop.

The attorney said the workshop is an old, abandoned establishment that would occasionally attract people who would pickup scrap metal for various purposes.

Burch-Smith then made an application that his client be admitted to reasonable bail on the grounds that he has no previous convictions, poses no risk of flight, has a fixed place of abode and has been cooperating with the police in their investigations.

He added that his client is the main breadwinner of his household and would need to work in order to provide for their needs.

The prosecution said, however, that on the day in question the police upon receiving certain information went to the workshop where they saw the defendant and Fordyce loading scrap metal into the defendant’s Canter truck.

The prosecution added that Fordyce who is still on the run managed to escape but Barker was caught.

The prosecutor then objected to the bail application made by the lawyer.

Barker was subsequently remanded to prison until today. His matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrate’s Court.