A goldsmith accused of receiving $450,000 worth of stolen gold was yesterday released on bail in the sum of $100,000 by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It is alleged that on January 15 at Georgetown, Patrick Mingo received from Oliver Franklin a quantity of gold valued $450,000 and the property of Abdul Faraz Khan, knowing same to be stolen or unlawfully obtained.
The 53-year-old denied the charge of receiving stolen property when it was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Attorney Vic Puran, who represented the accused, contended that the property in question belongs to his client. The lawyer then made an application for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail on the grounds that he had no antecedents, posed no risk of flight, had a fixed address and had been cooperating with police investigations.
When asked, the prosecution related to the court that the “facts are as charged,” after which no further details of what transpired were presented to the court. The prosecution had no objection to the accused being granted bail but requested that it be set in a substantial sum to ensure he returns to stand trial.
The case was transferred to Court Ten for January 26.
