Duo jailed over $26M theft from Essequibo businessman

Two men were on Friday sent to prison for stealing items to the tune of $26 million while another man was granted bail for stealing cattle.
In the first instance, Safraz Oullah, known as Antsman,27, a bus driver from Para Street, Anna Regina, Region Two (Pomeroon Supernaam), and Joel Christopher Li, a 30-year-old vendor from Belle Alliance, Essequibo were jointly slapped with a break and enter and larceny charge.
The charge stemmed from an incident which occurred between August 24 and August 25, during which the men allegedly broke into the home of Keran Chowtie, a 30-year-old businessman of Three Friends, Essequibo Coast and stole a quantity of jewellery, US currency, watches, and Guyanese currency totalling over $26 million.
They appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court and were not required to plead to the indictment. However, following the institution of the Administrative of Justice Act (AJA), the due pleaded not guilty after the court found them guilty as charged.

They were each sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment.
In a separate case, Andre Bhagwandass, a 25-year-old labourer from Richmond, Essequibo Coast, was charged with larceny of cattle.
Bhagwandass is accused of stealing two ram goats valued at $360,000, belonging to Mohamed Ayube two Sundays ago.
He appeared before Magistrate Tamieka Clarke at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court and was not required to plead to the charge when it was read to him. Although the prosecutor objected to bail, it was granted in the amount of $100,000.
Bhagwandass is required to report to the Anna Regina Police Station on the last Friday of every month until the determination of the matter. The case was adjourned to September 7.