Sentencing looms for trainee cop who stole colleague’s phone

A young recruit dashed his dream of becoming a police officer when he stole a colleague’s mobile phone.

Tyrone Cort accepted that between August 3 and August 4, at the Felix Austin Police Training School, in Corentyne, Berbice, he stole a Samsung Galaxy cell phone, valued $50,000, from Jermaine Humphrey.

When asked by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry why he “did a foolish thing like this, to jeopardise your entire police career,” Cort just lowered his head and offered no response.

Sentencing of the Manchester Village, Corentyne, Berbice youth has been deferred to September 19, pending the presentation of a probation report. In the meantime, he has been admitted to bail in the sum of $50,000.

Prosecutor Michael Grant, who presented the facts of the case at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One, said that at the time of the theft Cort was a trainee police attending the Felix Austin Police Training School in Berbice.

Grant said that on the day, Humphrey fell asleep with his phone after using it but woke up to discover it missing.

A police report was filed and an investigation was subsequently launched, during which a call was placed to the phone and a female, who was later contacted, confirmed that Cort had given her the phone. Cort was subsequently questioned and admitted stealing the phone and giving it to the female.

Further investigations were carried out and Cort was later arrested and charged.

When asked if he had anything to say regarding the charge, Cort eventually responded, “I don’t have anything to say.”

After being ordered by the prosecutor to lift his voice and explain himself, he then added, “Yeah, ah steal the phone. The female brother was to collect it.”

When asked, prosecutor Grant informed the court that Cort had been a trainee police for the past five months. He also explained that as a result of the incident, Cort would not be able to rejoin the Guyana Police Force.

After hearing the matter, the magistrate explained to Cort that his sentence would be deferred to September 19 to facilitate the presentation of a probation report and gave him a stern warning to ensure he returns to court.

In the meantime, she granted him bail and ordered him to report to the Whim Police Station fortnightly until the matter is called again.