Zeelugt man caught breaking into car – court hears

A Zeelugt man was on Friday remanded to prison after he was allegedly caught in the act of breaking the rear glass of a car and attempting to steal a handbag therein, while the driver was in a Georgetown restaurant.

Michael Hansraj of 437 Zeelugt North, East Bank Essequibo pleaded not guilty to the charge read by Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

It is alleged that on January 22, in Georgetown Hansraj damaged the rear glass of a car valued $18,000 and stole a hand bag valued $15,000 property of Amanda Rafeek.

Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick told the court that on the day in question around 10:30 hrs Rafeek parked her NZE motor car outside the Church’s Chicken restaurant and went in to make a purchase. A traffic rank who was on duty in the area observed the defendant breaking the rear glass of the car and attempting to enter the vehicle, the rank approached Hansraj and enquired about the reason for his actions at which point Rafeek returned and identified the vehicle as hers.

The prosecutor objected to the defendant being granted bail based on the ground that he was caught in the act of committing the crime, the seriousness of the offence and if granted bail he might not return for trial.

Hansraj was then remanded to prison until February 3, when he will again appear in court.