House guest jailed for stealing paint, toilet bowls

A man was yesterday sentenced to nine months in jail for stealing toilet bowls and paint from a man who had been hosting him as a house guest.

Ann McLennan sentenced Vishal Lall, 30, of Essequibo, after he confessed that he stole three buckets of TrowelTex paint worth $39,000 from Clifton Austin, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, on August 8.

He, however, denied that he was responsible for the two missing toilet bowls, valued at $96,000, which was also the property of Austin. Police Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent Deneaswar Maindranauth told the court that Lall was residing at the home of Austin at Diamond Housing Scheme when the articles mentioned in the charge went missing. Prior to August 8, when Austin checked on the articles, they were intact. However, the items were discovered missing by Austin when a later check was made.

According to Maindranauth, when questioned, Lall initially denied stealing the items but, after the police became involved, he confessed and led investigators to the stolen items.

“I take the TrowelTex, but I didn’t take no toilet bowl,” declared Lall. He further mentioned that another young man, who had possession of the house keys, was also staying at Austin’s residence at the same time the items went missing.