Miner charged over crab oil theft

A Bagotville miner, accused of stealing three gallons of crab oil from a Mahdia businessman, was granted bail when he appeared yesterday in a city court.

Anthony Osborne, called “Ragga” of 96 David Rose Street, Bagotville, pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing $42,000 worth of crab oil from Oswald Junor between January 7 and January 28.

Junor is a businessman who operates in the Mahdia Arcade. According to Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, in December, Junor bought 5 gallons of crab oil and stored it in a large yellow bottle. On January 7, he removed a gallon of the oil and left the remainder in the bottle.

However, during a check on January 28, he discovered that 3 gallons of the oil were missing. He made a report to the police shortly after.

Mangru said Osborne was contacted and four small vodka bottles containing crab oil were recovered in his possession. Contact was also made with Debra Blunt, a person who confirmed that she bought the said crab oil from Osborne. Investigations continued and Osborne is reported to have admitted to removing the crab oil belonging to Junor.

After no objections to bail were raised by Prosecutor Mangru, Osborne’s bail was set at $30,000 bail and the case was adjourned until April 14, when it will be called at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court for reports and fixtures.