A male cook who allegedly stole eight ounces of raw gold — valued at $1.8M — from his boss was this afternoon charged and released on $200,000 bail for the offence.
Twenty-eight-year-old Oliver La Rose of 546 Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on August 6 at Mahdia in the Essequibo Magisterial District, he stole the raw gold which was the property of his boss Joseph Maloo.
An unrepresented La Rose appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
According to information, on the day in question, Maloo left La Rose in the kitchen cooking and went out for a few minutes. Upon his return to the camp, Maloo observed the food burning and La Rose was nowhere to be found. Maloo, after making a further search around the camp, observed the gold missing. Hence, he reported the matter to the Mahdia Police Station.
An investigation was carried out and La Rose was arrested. A search was then carried out among his possessions and four and a half ounces of raw gold along with $57,000 and a quantity of clothing was found in his possession.
When questioned, he reportedly told the officers he sold some of the gold to purchase clothing for himself.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield did not object to bail being granted to the defendant but asked that conditions be attached. The Chief Magistrate, therefore, released La Rose on $200,000 bail. The condition of the bail is that he must report every Friday to the Mahdia Police Station until the hearing and determination of the trial.
La Rose was instructed to make his next court appearance on October 25 at the Matthew’s Ridge Magistrate’s Court.
