One jailed, three others granted bail pending trial
DIYODHAN Ramkirit, 24, of Vreed-en-Hoop Squatting Area, West Coast Demerara, was Tuesday sentenced to a total of eight years imprisonment on conviction for simple larceny and conspiracy.
Three other defendants on separate charges, Rakesh Sawh, 24, of Lot 232 Gordon Street, Kitty, Oric Obermuller, 39, of Lot 1232 South Ruimveldt and Ailene Bowman, 38, of Lot 77 Robb Street, all in Georgetown, also appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson in connection with a stolen vehicle.
Ramkirit, who was unrepresented by counsel, admitted that, on May 30, he stole one Toyota Tundra, valued $5M, property of Farouk Ghani and, between March 30 and May 29, with intent to defraud, conspired together with other persons to forge a motor vehicle registration, purporting to show that it was issued by the Guyana Revenue Office, knowing it to be a forgery.
Sawh pleaded not guilty to the charge which accused him of having, between March 30 and May 29, with intent to defraud, conspired together with persons to forge a motor vehicle registration knowing it to be false.
Obermuller, too, denied that, between March 30 and May 29, he received the Toyota Tundra knowing it was stolen or unlawfully obtained.
He was represented by Defence Counsel Vic Puran, who also entered appearance for Bowman, who, it was alleged, drove GLL 6438 on May 29 when the identification mark was fraudulently inserted.
She pleaded not guilty and informed the Court that she borrowed the vehicle from her church friend.
Puran, in bail applications for his clients, said Obermuller purchased the vehicle and thought the sale was genuine.
The lawyer said Bowman was not aware that the number plate was a fake when she borrowed the vehicle.
The prisoner Ramkirit claimed he worked with the virtual complainant and fell on hard times, so he took the vehicle to Sawh and told him he got it from Suriname to sell.
The convict said Sawh gave him a down payment of $300,000 and promised to pay the remainder when he gets the documentation.
As a result, Ramkirit said he paid another man to get the documents in order and hand them to Sawh who sold the vehicle to Obermuller.
The thief begged for leniency, stating that he is married and has three children.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said Ghani is the registered owner of the vehicle for which the original number plate was GKK 4274.
The Prosecutor said the vehicle was found with a different number plate after the owner reported it missing.
Ramkirit will serve two four-year sentences consecutively and Sawh was put on $100,000 bail, Obermuller on $50,000 and Bowman on $15,000.
Their cases will be called, again, on July 9.