Porter to do community service for market theft

Marcellous Gentle
Marcellous Gentle

A porter was yesterday ordered to perform four weeks of community service after admitting that he stole a music box from a Stabroek Market vendor.

Marcellous Gentle, 21, pleaded guilty to a charge, which alleges that on May 7th, at Stabroek Market, a public place, he broke and entered stall 54 and stole a wireless music box valued $3,000 from Glen Rajnarine.

The charge was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the George-town Magistrates’ Court.

According to the prosecutor, at about 17:15 hrs on the day in question, Rajnarine, after properly securing and leaving his stall, later returned and discovered that his stall window was open. Upon entering the stall, he noticed that the music box was missing. He then viewed CCTV footage which showed Gentle prying open the stall window and entering the stall, after which he took the music box. Rajnarine subsequently reported the matter to the nearest police station and two police officers were sent to view the footage.

On May 9th, at about 11:25 hrs, one of the officers who viewed the footage saw Gentle walking along Water Street. He approached Gentle, informed him of the allegations and then arrested him.

The Chief Magistrate asked Gentle why he stole the music box to which he replied smiling, “to mek lil money.”

He was subsequently ordered to perform four weeks of community service at the Magistrates Court or serve a default sentence of two weeks in jail.