Bauxite workers charged in diesel theft

Three men accused of stealing fuel from the RUSAL Bauxite Company at Aroaima were yesterday admitted to bail in  the sum of $125,000 each by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

It is alleged that Dellon Tappin, 33, Robert Moore, 57, Dellon Benjamin, 27, and Andrew Grimond, on February 15, at the RUSAL Bauxite Company, Aroaima, stole 195 gallons of diesel valued $122,600.

Tappin of 59 One Mile, Extension Two Aroaima, Moore of 616 Amelia’s Ward Linden and Benjamin, of 444 Aroaima were not required to plead to the indictable charge of larceny, when it was read to them at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. A warrant was issued for Grimond, who was absent from court yesterday.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Lionel Harvey told the court that Tappin, who is employed by the bauxite company along with the other accused, took a motor van to the company’s bond and removed four drums containing 44 gallons of gasoline and 15 gallons of diesel, after which he drove off.

According to Harvey, it was after the defendants were stopped at a security checkpoint and could not produce permission slips for the removal of the fuel that suspicions arose.

The Sergeant said that the men then ran away and abandoned the vehicle. Police investigations later led to their arrest.

Attorney Gordon Gilhuys, who represented the trio, made an application for reasonable bail on the grounds that the men had no antecedents, posed no risk of flight and had been cooperating with police investigations.

The prosecution had no objection to the bail application made by the lawyer but requested that it be granted in a substantial sum to ensure that they return to stand trial.

After listening to the case, the Magistrate granted the men their pre-trial liberty. The case was transferred to the Kwakwani Magistrates’ Court for March 18.