A miner accused of converting a boat engine to his own use instead of returning it to its owner was yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $125,000 by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
The allegation against Wrenrick Reid, 48, is that on August 14, at Georgetown, being solely entrusted by Rawlston Bacchus with an outboard engine valued $430,000, in order that he may keep same and return it, he fraudulently converted it to his own use. Reid, of 2536 North Ruimveldt, pleaded not guilty to the charge of fraudulent conversion at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Attorney George Thomas, who represented Reid, said he was instructed that his client was given the engine by Bacchus to have it repaired by a mechanic and he had done just that. Thomas said that the charge against his client was a “shock.”
The lawyer made an application for his client to be admitted to reasonable bail, while noting that he had no antecedents, posed no risk of flight, had a fixed address and had been cooperating with police.
However, Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that Bacchus had asked the accused to keep the item mentioned in the charge for a specific period with the understanding that it would be returned to him. He said Bacchus was repeatedly being told by Reid that the engine would have been returned but with no action. Telford, who said that the two men are known to each other, then explained that Bacchus became suspicious later after not being able to contact Reid at all.
A police report was made and it resulted in Reid’s arrest.
The matter was transferred to Court Ten for February 15 for reports and fixture for trial.
