Three labourers, who were hired by an Indian national to offload imported goods from a container, were yesterday accused of stealing.
Malcolm Culley, 22, of Middle Road, East La Penitence, Carl Mangal, 19, of 32 Pear Street, Charlestown and Onica Griffith, 24, of Ramos Street, Plaisance, are all alleged to have stolen $39,700 in articles from Jasin Singh, on October 8.
Culley is alleged to have stolen four artificial necklaces, valued $10,000; Mangal is alleged to have stolen two artificial necklaces, three tattoo stickers, a pair of artificial earrings, seven artificial bands and a skirt, which have a total value of $22,900; and Griffith is alleged to have stolen two artificial bands, seven lipsticks, and two tattoo stickers, all totalling $6,800.
The three men all pleaded not guilty to the simple larceny charges when they were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Culley, Mangal and Griffith, among others, were hired by Singh to offload stock from a container. Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick said that Singh discovered the three accused passing the articles mentioned in the charge to a few boys who were on bicycles. He raised an alarm and the boys made good their escape.
Bostwick said that the labourers were then taken into police custody.
Singh noted that Griffith’s family pleaded with them to be lenient, while explaining that she has a one month old baby who has to be taken to the police station to be nursed every day.
The magistrate then asked the prosecution if there were any objections to Griffith being released on self bail, to which there were none. The prosecution also had no objections to bail being granted to the other co-accused. Culley and Mangal were placed on $10,000 and $20,000 bail each, respectively, and will make their next court appearances in Court 10 today.
