Five BK employees charged for stealing $1.2M truck part

Jul 15, 2014 News

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Five employees attached to the construction giant, BK Group of Companies, were formally charged in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday for stealing a truck part valued at $1.2M from the company.
Tyrone Ghani, 20, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Sanjay Ramjet, 23, of Canal #2 Polder, West Bank Demerara; Trevor Collette, 30, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara; Wole Archer, 41, of Public Road, Friendship, East Bank Demerara; and Kirk Inniss, 32, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden; were taken before Magistrate Faith McGusty to face a charge for simple larceny.
It is alleged that between June 5, last, and July 11, last they stole BK International’s $1.2M Mack Truck computer box.
In his call for the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) to be applied, representing Attorney at Law Paul Fung-a-Fat stated that the article was recovered and he was of the opinion that the court has the jurisdiction to deal with the matter.
The Prosecution, spearheaded by Corporal Seon Blackman, objected however, stating that other charges are expected to be instituted against the employees. He told the court that he will make the application when all the charges are brought.
The five men were not called upon to respond since the charge was laid indictably.  The facts of the case were not revealed in court.
Applying for reasonable bail, Fung-a-Fat said that none of the five men was ever charged or convicted by any court of law.
He said that while Ghani was employed as an excavator operator, Ramjet, Colette and Archer held the post as mechanics while Inniss had been employed as a driver.
Fung-a-Fat described Colette as a champion employee who had been gainfully employed with the construction giant for the past 12 years.
Ghani, he said, had been with BK for the past six years, Ramjet for four years and Archer served for two years while Inniss was employed six months ago as a driver.
The lawyer stressed that the article had been recovered and that none of his clients were picked out during an identification parade but were rather just “informed that they were charged.”
He said that they had been held in police custody since last Friday.
Fung-a-Fat asked the Magistrate to consider too that this is a case that involves a company and as such “statements will take a long time to file.”
He opined that the police had sufficient time to bring forth all the charges “from since Friday. This is just a case where they are trying to imprison my clients wrongfully.”
His application was, however, met with objections from the Prosecution.
Blackman stated, “Your worship, in relation to the defendants before you, there are several matters being investigated against them for stolen parts from BK International which amount to $40M.”
He said that based on that, if any bail should be granted, the defendants who were cognizant that an investigation is pending would pose a flight risk to the courts and would not return for trial.
Blackman claimed, too, that the value of the article as well as the nature of the offence and the punishment it attracts were enough for the court to order them held.
The Prosecution contended that it was in possession of evidence. “The exhibit is in court. It was recovered with the assistance of all the accused. There was no need to place them on an identification parade since they all work with BK International, your worship.”
The Corporal made an application for two weeks for the investigations to be completed.
Fung-a-Fat rose and refuted the Prosecution’s claims. He stated that the Prosecution had not advanced reasons to show that his clients would “flee to Suriname or Brazil or not turn up to face the charges.”
The lawyer said that three of the men had passports and were willing to lodge them if the court deemed necessary.
“These men have unblemished characters your worship,” the lawyer insisted.
Notwithstanding the objections advanced by the Prosecution, bail was granted in the sum of $250,000 to each of the accused. They were ordered to report to the Headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) every Monday at 9:00 hours.
The case is set to be called again on August 4 for report.
A press release from BK on Saturday had stated that the company recognized that many of its trucks spare parts and other equipment were being stolen over the past year but was only able to catch those stealing the Group’s property last week.
The items stolen include a computer box, fuel pumps, hubs, brake liners, fuel injectors, axles, batteries, lights, wheel seals, steering ends, deferential seals, clutch plates, pressure plates, dump pump, break booster, wheel bearings, ratchet, and stabilizer bars.

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