Mason accused of stealing cellphone

A mason was taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a charge of simple larceny.
Akeem Burnett of Lot 12 Supply, East Bank Demerara stood before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to the charge, which stated that on April 14, 2019 at Seawall Road, Georgetown, he stole a Samsung Galaxy cell phone worth $85,000, property of Travis Rampaul.
The 22-year-old man initially pleaded guilty to the charge, which also stated that at 23:30h on the day in question, he went with the VC on the Georgetown seawall to hang out, and went to the VC’s car to get a pack of cigarette but never returned.
The court heard that the VC then went to check on Burnett when he discovered his phone was missing from his car. The matter was then reported at the Alberttown Police Station, where an investigation was carried out and the defendant was arrested.
In court on Thursday, Burnett told Magistrate McLennan that he had the VC’s phone, but was robbed by four men when the VC sent him for a pack of cigarette from his car.
He said he did not know how to tell the VC, because he had met him only the same day at a Chinese restaurant, where they were drinking. Burnett told the court that the VC had invited him to the seawall along with two female friends.
Burnett told the court that after he was robbed, he contacted the Soesdyke Police Station, and they told him they would send a patrol to accompany him to the crime scene. He also told the court that the patrol finally arrived, and the VC was in the Police vehicle, and he was arrested.
Magistrate Ann McLennan entered a not guilty plea on Burnett’s behalf after listening to his story.
The Police Prosecutor did not object to the defendant being placed on bail, but requested that conditions should be applied. Burnett was released on $10,000 bail, and has to report to the Grove Police Station every Friday until the trial has been completed.
The case will continue on April 23.