Thirty-eight-year-old tattoo artist Nicholas Choy, of Lot 168 Robb Street, Georgetown, was on Friday remanded to prison after appearing before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the offence of break-and-enter and larceny committed at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) daycare and preschool.
Choy is accused of breaking into the facility located at Lot 106, Croal Street, Georgetown on May 12, and stealing a range of household and school items. The charge, which falls under Section 229A of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, alleges that Choy stole one microwave valued at $37,000; one black industrial fan worth $25,000; three double-bed mattresses valued at $54,000; a black water dispenser worth $25,000; a roll of black garbage bag worth $1,200; a JBL speaker valued at $31,000; a small fan worth $9,000; a black garbage bin valued at $18,000; and a quantity of school supplies worth $77,000, all amounting to $277,200.
Upon the initial reading of the charge, Choy was told he was not required to plead. However, he requested to speak, and proclaimed his innocence.
“Your Worship, I didn’t break in nowhere. I come home from work. I’m a businessman. I work on America Street doing tattoos,” he explained. “When I come home, I come out me yard, I see a junkie passing with a garbage bin, and I say, ‘Wah you get that new bin?’ and he drop the bin and run away. The police then roll up on me same time. I didn’t break in nowhere”.
Choy insisted that the junkie was merely passing by and not known to him, and that he had no involvement in any burglary. “I got five children, Your Worship. I wouldn’t go into no school and take nothing from children. I got five children. Every Friday I come downstairs and pay child support,” he added, apparently trying to appeal to the court’s compassion.
Principal Magistrate McGusty then advised Choy that the charge would be formally read to him once more, after which he would be required to enter a plea. When asked how he wished to plead, Choy responded: “Not guilty, Your Worship.”
The court then engaged in clarifying several details about Choy’s background. He confirmed that he was 38 years old, resided at Lot 168 Robb Street, and worked as a tattoo artist. When asked about his marital status, he said, “No, Your Worship,” confirming that he was not married.
Magistrate McGusty then invited input from the prosecution. The prosecutor indicated that there was clear video footage capturing Choy during the alleged break-in.
“It was indicated to me, Madam, that we have video footage of the defendant breaking into the premises and taking the items that he was not given permission to take,” the prosecutor stated. “The footage captured the image of the defendant clear. And the IR (investigating rank) indicated to me that he even went as far as to take a shower in one of the rooms.”
Magistrate McGusty then asked the prosecution whether Choy had any previous matters before the court and if he had previously failed to attend court, to which Choy replied: “Never, Your Worship.”
Trying to clarify his legal history, he told the Magistrate that he had “another matter in another court. That was last year.”
When Magistrate McGusty asked what the charge was, Choy said it was “A simple accident,” and noted that the matter had since been dismissed.
The court then inquired whether any of the stolen items were recovered. The prosecution confirmed that at least some were found. When asked who had the items in their possession, the prosecution said it was the defendant.
Choy, however, attempted to explain away the possession: “Your Worship, just the garbage bin. But I didn’t know what was in the garbage bin.” He elaborated further: “When I go to check the garbage bin, that is when the police roll up”.
He pleaded with the court: “Your Worship, I does be on America Street. I wouldn’t do anything.”
Despite his explanations, Principal Magistrate McGusty noted the gravity of the evidence: “I understand there is video footage. And if you were to put aside the video footage, you were found in possession of the items.”
Bail was subsequently refused, and Choy was remanded to prison until his next court appearance, set for June 6, 2025.
The incident Choy mentioned to the Magistrate occurred in February 2022, when he was remanded to prison after being charged with stealing articles amounting to over $400,000 from a man’s car.
It is alleged then that at Albert and Charlotte streets, Georgetown, while being in the company of others, he stole a Timberland haversack, valued at $25,000, containing a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra cellphone valued at $225,000, three flashlights valued $74,000, a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses valued $60,000, and a ratchet kit set valued $36,000. The items, which amounted to a total of $460,000 in value, were the property of Bhesham Persaud.
Persaud locked his car and left the haversack with the items mentioned in it. He went to a bar along Charlotte Street and then returned at 21:55h, when he discovered that his car had been broken into and the bag containing his valuables was missing. The man reported the matter to the Alberttown Police Station, and the police launched an investigation.
The police later retrieved CCTV footage which showed Choy in the company of others breaking into the car and removing the articles. Choy was later arrested and was remanded to prison, but was later released.
