A 20-year-old man was handed a nine months’ jail sentence after admitting to stealing a cellular phone from a member of an Alexander Village, Georgetown masjid.
The sentence was imposed on Joshua Viera when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.
On July 20, 2021, at Alexander Village, Georgetown, he stole a Samsung S20 cell phone valued at $75,000 and $12,000, property of Haroon Hussain.
Jailed: Joshua Viera
The court was told that Viera and Hussain are known to each other since they attend the same masjid. On the day in question, the victim left his cell phone and money with his niece in the kitchen area of the masjid and went to pray.
Upon his return to the kitchen area, Hussain noticed that his money and cell phone were missing and raised an alarm. The matter was reported to the Police, and an investigation was launched. Viera was only recently arrested for the crime.
Last year, he was charged and convicted for a similar crime.
Meanwhile, in a similar matter, a man accused of stealing several electronic items from staffers at the Finance Ministry was charged with three counts of simple larceny and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Joseph Harper also appeared before Magistrate Daly. He denied the charges.
It is alleged that on June 14, 2019, at the Ministry of Finance, 49 Main and Urquhart Streets, Georgetown, he stole a Samsung cell phone valued at $100,000, property of Anuradha Persaud. It is also alleged that on the same day and at the same location, he stole two Samsung tablets valued at $75,000, property of Eleeni Komal.
Remanded: Joseph Harper
The court heard that on the day in question, a well-dressed Harper walked into the Ministry’s compound under the pretext that he was employed there. He thereafter walked into the building and carried away the phone and electronic tablets. After discovering that the items were missing, the virtual complainants raised an alarm.
CCTV footage from the Ministry was reviewed in which Harper was observed entering the Ministry’s compound, removing the items, loitering, and leaving. A report was lodged with the Police and investigations were carried out.
The Police prosecutor said that Harper admitted to stealing and selling the items under caution. The prosecutor’s objections to Harper being granted bail were upheld by the Magistrate who remanded him to prison until March 18. (G1)
