A 19-year-old man was yesterday placed on bail to the tune of $225,000 by Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer to three counts of break and enter and larceny.
It is alleged that on May 30 in the North West District, Dwight Emmanuel, a field assistant of the Guyana Forestry Commission of 118 West Ruimveldt, broke and entered the dwelling house of Celine Lee and stole cash and items valued $124,000, property of the said Celine Lee.
On the said day also in the North West District, Emmanuel allegedly broke and entered the dwelling house of Julia Khellowan and stole cash and items valued $148,127, property of the said Julia Khellowan.
Emmanuel also allegedly on May 30 in the North West District broke and entered the dwelling house of Scott Billingey and stole $10,000, property of the said Scott Billingey.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
According to attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes who represented the defendant, his client prior to the alleged allegation has had an unblemished record and remains eager to vindicate himself of the charges laid against him.
According to Hughes, on the day in question, the defendant had travelled to the North West District to attend the Moruca Village Day celebrations when places were broken into. “My worship, on the day in question, my client had gone to be a part of the Moruca Village Day celebrations and it is rather unfortunate that he was arrested and charged for alleged break and enter. What is even more unfortunate Madam is the fact that he was identified as the culprit by an individual who is visually challenged. That person identified my client, saying that the person responsible for the robberies had been wearing clothes similar to what my client was wearing on the day in question,” said Hughes.
Hughes further explained to the court that his client had an iron-clad alibi for his whereabouts on the day in question which can be substantiated by witnesses. “My client was at the Village Day celebrations when this is alleged to have occurred,” Hughes said.
The attorney then made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum on the grounds that his client poses no risk of flight, has been cooperating with the police in their investigation and has no previous antecedents.
Police Corporal Munilall Seetram had no objection to the bail application and added that US$1 and a key to one of the dwelling houses had been recovered among the belongings of the defendant.
Emmanuel was subsequently placed on bail in the sum of $75,000 on each count of the offence and his matter was transferred to the Acquero Magistrate’s Court, North West District for July 7.
