In court over restaurant theft, drug pipe

A theft accused was remanded to prison then later granted $35,000 bail for possession of a utensil used to smoke cocaine when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Mark Mangol, 32, of 200 Barr Street, Kitty, pleaded not guilty of the charges of break and enter and larceny when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson and was remanded to prison.

He later appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton to answer to the second charge and also pleaded not guilty.

It is alleged that between September 7 and 8, Mangol broke and entered a restaurant and stole a television set, a microwave and several other kitchen appliances valued at $147,000. The prosecution told the court that Mangol had been seen jumping through a window in the restaurant with the items in his possession. When he saw the police he allegedly dropped the items and fled the area. He was later apprehended and charged.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that Mangol had been charged with similar offences previously and should not be allowed to continue such acts. Magistrate Robertson then remanded the man and ordered him to appear at court on October 27.

As regards the second charge, Mangol was allegedly found on October 8 with an improvised pipe used to smoke cocaine. Magistrate Octive-Hamilton granted him bail and ordered that he appear at court on January 14.