Fishermen charged for stealing GRA boat

Three fishermen who reportedly stole a boat belonging to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) found themselves before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Taijram Roopnarine, 38, and Hemchan Kenswain, 21, both of Lot 67 Annandale Market Road, ECD, and Nazim Khan, 44, of Lot 265 Narine Street, Annandale were not required to plead to the indictable charge. An alleged accomplice, Shameer Mohamed, was also charged, but did not make an appearance in court.
The prosecution is alleging that while the vessel was in the vicinity of a wharf at Ruimveldt, Georgetown on July 2, the men stole the vessel, valued at $2.5 million and belonging to the Guyana Revenue Authority.
According to facts presented to the court, on July 2, law enforcement officers of the GRA carried out a search exercise in the same area where they seized a 55-foot wooden vessel and docked same at the Ruimveldt wharf.
However, at about 02:15h the same day, the vessel went missing. A search was carried out, and the vessel was allegedly seen being towed by a smaller boat being operated by Kenswain.
The men were subsequently arrested. Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield did not object to the men being placed on bail, but asked that they each lodge their travel documents and report to the Ruimveldt Police Station every Friday.
The men were each placed on $350,000 bail. The matter will continue of July 20.