Casino trio appear in court over stolen chits

Dec 21, 2010 News

Three casino workers who were charged with simple larceny, were each placed on $200,000 bail, after they appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry, yesterday, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Vijay Ramroop, 23, of 27 Diamond, East Bank Demerara; Shuwayne Isaacs, 18, of Providence Police Station Compound; and Deodat Rampersaud were jointly charged with the offence.

The accused as they leave the court

It is alleged that between December 1 and December 16, last, the defendants stole 70 chits valued at US$100 each, property of the Princess Casino.
Ramroop was represented by Attorney- At- Law David Thompson, Isaacs was represented by Attorney- At- Law, Patrice Henry and Rampersaud was unrepresented. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Thompson, in a bail application, told the court that the police have not apprehended the person who went to the cashier with the chits, since he is a tourist. He said that his client was threatened by the head of security to admit that he had committed the crime.
Thompson said that the money was not removed from the casino and the police are relying on the words of the tourist, who went to cash in the chits.
He stated that the man should have been arrested too. He added that his client is innocent and that the Magistrate should grant bail with leniency.
Patrice Henry in a bail application told the court that his client has no knowledge of the matter. He said that Isaacs has an unblemished record and that there is no evidence to show that he had committed the crime. The lawyer requested that the Magistrate grants reasonable bail.
However, Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford had no objections to bail, but he told the court that Ramroop, Isaacs and Rampersaud are employees of the casino as dealers and pit boss.
According to Telford, on the day in question, a man produced 70 chits valued US$100 each to cash in, which is equivalent to $1.4M. He said that the workers at the casino found it odd that all the winnings came from one table, when the man brought forth the chits.
Telford said that Ramroop gave the man (tourist) the chits to cash in and Isaacs and Rampersaud conspired with him. He said that the number two and three accused denied the allegations made against them, thus an investigation was carried out and the men were charged of the offence with the support of evidence.
Hence, the Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $250,000, but the lawyers asked for a reduction of bail and the men were placed on $200,000 bail each. They are scheduled to make their next court appearance on December 29.