Three months jail for stealing building materials

Anil Persaud, 40, who admitted to stealing a quantity of building materials from a businessman, was yesterday sentenced to three months imprisonment by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Persaud, of 22 Marshall Street, Annandale, East Coast Demerara pleaded guilty to the offence of simple larceny. The charge stated that on October 31, at Georgetown, he stole a quantity of bolts, nuts and washers valued $10,000, which was property of Bhanuaswar Sahadeo.

At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Persaud said that while he did indeed take the items, he had returned them.

The Magistrate, however, explained that although he may have already returned the articles, he still stands liable for stealing them in the first instance.

When asked if the items were given back to him, Sahadeo, who was present at court, replied in the negative. It was at this point that Persaud went on to explain that when he arrived at the complainant’s home, he was not there and as a result he left the articles with “the mistress” who resides in the upper flat of the building.

In presenting the facts of the case, Police Corporal Venetta Pindar told the court that Sahadeo operates a business at the bottom flat of his home. Pindar said Sahadeo was preparing the items mentioned in the charge to be sold to a customer when Persaud, who once worked for him, saw the items being packed away and carted them off.

A police report was made and this led to Persaud’s arrest.