Two Venezuelan men who allegedly broke into a shop and stole $273,000 worth of items and another who police said received the stolen articles were all charged and remanded to prison today.
Oscar Joramillo and Alexis Zapata, both 22-years-old, appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that between June 21, 2019 and June 22, 2019, at Kamaka, Water Front, North West District, they broke and entered the shop of Alicia Wong and stole a number of articles valuing $273,300. The stolen articles were the property of the said Alicia Wong.
Also appearing before the same Magistrate was 26-year-old Nilko García. He denied the charge which stated that between June 21, 2019 and June 22, 2019, at Kamaka, Water Front, North West District, he received a number of articles valuing $173,000, the property of Alicia Wong, knowing same to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
The men, who spoke through an interpreter, told the court that they came to Guyana in search of work because of the economic situation in their homeland.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that during the period mentioned in the charges the woman secured her shop and went out. However, on her return, she observed the shop open and the articles missing. The matter was then reported, an investigation was carried out, and the three men were arrested and charged with the offence.
The prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendants on the grounds that they have no ties to Guyana and, if granted bail, they would not return to court for the trial. The Chief Magistrate, after listening to the facts, remanded the trio to prison until July 8.
