Latest update October 1st, 2026 10:30 AM
Goldminers on bail for stealing raw gold
Three goldminers appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan yesterday charged with simple larceny. The men, Steve James, 25, of Lot 72 Dr. Charles Housing Scheme, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara; Shemmy Bernard, 
19, and Junior Bascom, 23, both of St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Soesdyke/Linden Highway are accused of stealing four and a half pennyweight of raw gold from Prince Bowman on January 11, at Arangoy Backdam, Cuyuni River.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The defendants were each released on $15,000 bail.
Police Prosecutor, Deniro Jones, did not relate any facts of the matter neither did he oppose bail for the men. However, Prosecutor Jones requested that bail be granted in a substantial sum to ensure the defendants return to court for trial. This matter was subsequently transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for February 3.
In another case, a 21-year-old Brazilian national was fined $20,000 for possession of cannabis sativa (marijuana). Gustavo Dos Santos appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan and pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on January 12, at Tabatinga, Rupununi, he had 5.7 grams of cannabis sativa in his possession.
Dos Santos through the aid of an interpreter told the court that he resides at Roraima, Brazil.
Prosecutor Jones told the court that police were on patrol duties in the area on the day in question, when they observed Dos Santos acting in a suspicious manner.
According to Jones, police ranks stopped the Brazilian and conducted a search on him, during which a quantity of leaves, seeds and stems were found in his right pants pocket. Jones stated that Dos Santos was arrested and escorted to the Lethem Police Station, where the drug was weighed in his presence.
When asked by the Magistrate if he had anything to say, Dos Santos told the court that police carried away $2,900 he had in his pants pocket. Failure to pay the fine will see him spending four weeks in jail.
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