Construction worker, taxi driver jailed

…Lusignan resident charged with receiving stolen article

Two men, including a construction worker and a taxi driver, were sentenced to three months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to a simple larceny charge at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
Eric Orlando Arnold, 23, known as “Ajay,” a construction worker residing in Phase 2, Good Hope, ECD, and Joshua Chowkai, 25, also called “Jay,” a taxi driver from Mon Repos, ECD, were both arrested on Tuesday by a rank from the Beterverwagting Police Station. They were charged with the offence of Simple Larceny under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 08:01, involving a complainant named Balram Manickram.

On Wednesday, both accused appeared before Magistrate Abigail Gibbs. After the charge was read, they pleaded guilty. An agreement of settlement was presented in court, leading to a sentence of three months’ imprisonment for each.
In a related incident, Rahul Sewdial, a 27-year-old resident of Lusignan, ECD, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with the offence of Receiving Stolen Articles, contrary to Section 237(1) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. The alleged offence also involved the complainant Balram Manickram.
Sewdial appeared at Vigilance Magistrates’ Court, Magistrate Sunil Scarce. He pleaded not guilty, though he provided compensation to the victim of $450,000. The matter is still pending.