Bartica trio charged for engine theft

Three men of Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) charged for stealing a boat engine and other items on Monday made an appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Mark Brian Griffith, 25, of Lot 97 Seventh Avenue, Bartica; Dwayne Washington, 27 and Colin Speed, 24, both of Lot 22 Fifth Avenue, Bartica appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.
Griffith denied the allegation; however, Washington and Speed admitted to stealing the Chinese engine along with blocks and other items with a total value of $207,000.
According to Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield, the items were left by the Virtual Complainant (VC), Barry Ramcharan, at a friend’s home, but, upon his return, he found the items missing.
The matter was investigated, and the trio were arrested. Washington and Speed admitted that they were unknowingly involved.
According to Washington, he was just a taxi driver hired on the day of the incident while Speed told the Court that he was asked by Griffith to assist him with lifting the engine for transport. He, however, noted that he was unaware of the other items mentioned in the charge.
Washington and Speed were fined $75,000 each. However, Griffith was placed on bail in the sum of $75,000.
He also had a second charge read against him which stated that between April 22, 2018 and May 1, 2018, at Bibarabo, Essequibo, he stole a 175-horsepower Yamaha engine foot valued half of a million dollars from Brian Bradford.
He denied the allegation and was granted bail in the sum of $20,000 on that charge.
He is expected to make his second court appearance on May 27, 2018 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.