Seven charged after police arrest looters in midst of Linden raid

Following the arrests on Tuesday, seven persons were yesterday charged and acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson remanded them to prison. Those indicted were four Jawalla, Mazaruni River residents-Sherwin Bristol, 32, a father of five; Elaine Jacobs, 45, a mother of ten; Jacobs’ reputed husband, Toby Stanford, 29; and Wendell Fleming, 29-and three Wismar, Linden residents-Angela Albert, 26, Ulric Da Silva, 25, and Howard Russell, 26. None were required to enter pleas to the indictable joint charge of larceny of things affixed to a building.

It is alleged that between December 29 and January 12 at Jawalla, those accused stole boards, zinc sheets, louvre glass windows and frames, bathroom, toilet and electrical fittings, with a total value of $831,250 that were affixed to the BK International building.

In an unsuccessful bail application, Rexford Jackson, lawyer for the accused, said that they all have modest backgrounds and most of them are the sole breadwinners of their families. The lawyer also noted that none of his clients were ever previously convicted for anything and that they will attend their trial since they pose no risk of flight

Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that on January 2, the building was left unattended by its guard but that police received information that it was being vandalised and upon investigations they found zinc sheets had been removed. The building is the only one in the area, he said.

Telford further stated that on January 12, the police went back to the building and this time they found Bristol, Russell and Albert loading boards from the said building unto a truck that was parked in the compound with Russell being the driver. He also stated that Stanford was caught cutting off boards from the building with a chainsaw while Fleming, Da Silva and Jacobs were seen packing up the boards onto a pile near the said building.

The prosecutor noted that they all were arrested and the truck with the boards is currently lodged at the Wismar Police Station.

Telford had further noted that the police conducted a search on Wednesday at the homes of all of the accused and recovered 118 zinc sheets, a quantity of louver glass windows and frames, a ceramic sink and a quantity of electrical cables.

He noted that additional charges are likely to be brought against the accused.

Stabroek News was told that on the night the suspects were arrested, a senior employee of BK International tipped off Commander of the Linden Police Station Horman Timmerman, who responded with ranks. Some of the materials that were taken from the building were already packed in a Bedford truck, GHH 3644. According to reliable sources, the vandals said that they wanted the materials to construct a house and chose to demolish the building because they thought that the company had no use for it any longer.

The matter has been transferred to the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court and is returnable for January 19. (Ayanna Blair and Cathy Richards)