Alleged cell phone thief remanded

An electrician who reportedly answered a phone he had allegedly stolen was on Wednesday remanded to prison.

Carl Dublin, 32, is accused of stealing a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone, valued at $114, 332, and a Blackberry cellular phone, valued at $45,000, property of Hilary Benjamin. He pleaded not guilty at the Providence Magistrate’s Court.

The prosecution facts stated that on April 19, at Diamond Housing Scheme, Benjamin left her phones unattended under her house and went to a shop. When she returned the phones were missing. Benjamin called one of the phones and Dublin answered and demanded that she pay $80,000 for the safe return of the phones. A report was made to the police and Dublin was arrested and charged.

The prosecution objected to bail given that Dublin travels to the interior a lot and has no fixed place of abode.

Magistrate Leron Daly denied Dublin bail. His next court date is May 14.