A woman was on Friday placed on a total of $100,000 bail by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, on two separate charges.
Melissa Ann Degrace, of Lot 872 ‘A’ Field Sophia, pleaded not guilty to the charges of simple larceny and the use of threatening language, when she appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One.
Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that on December 29, at around 6.30 pm, the accused visited John Rodrigues at his room at the Sleepin Hotel, on Church Street and asked for a drink.
Telford continued that when the virtual complainant (VC) left to get the drink, the accused allegedly stole $3,500 and US$50 and left the premises. Upon his return, Rodrigues discovered the absence of both Degrace and his money. He then informed the police of the theft and the accused was later arrested.
As the magistrate was about to grant the defendant bail, she was informed by Telford of another charge pending against Degrace. He said that on January 3 the accused demanded $100,000 from New Thriving Chinese Restaurant’s manager John Wong, while threatening him. The prosecutor told the court that Degrace claimed she found a cockroach in her food, which she had purchased from the restaurant.
After stating the facts, Telford asked the magistrate to grant reasonable bail to the mother of three. The accused was then granted bail in the sums of $25,000 on the simple larceny charge and $75,000 on the use of threatening language charge.
She was ordered to return to court on January 27.
