TWO men, Mc Donald Gobin and Naresh Bacchus  (no addresses given) have been charged with sacrilege, following the recent burglary at Cornerstone Christian Brethren Assembly Church, in Harkman’s Lane, New Amsterdam, Berbice.
They were each put on $200,000 bail when they appeared before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo, in the New Amsterdam court, on the indictable charge.
Police Sergeant Godfrey Playter, prosecuting, had objected to bail for the accused, citing the nature of the crime and the value of the booty, but defence counsel Charrandas Persaud submitted that the prosecution did not advance any legal reason for denial of the grant.
The lawyer said 32-year-old Bacchus is the father of seven and a businessman with a fixed place of abode at Timmer’s Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam.
Co-accused Gobin, 33, of Smythfield, who was unrepresented by counsel, said he is a painter, mason and scrap iron collector.
The charge against the duo said they broke into the place of worship between February 15 and 16 and stole a music mixer, an amplifier, a compact disc (CD) player, two cordless microphones and a ‘Yamaha’ outboard engine, all valued a total $1,809,256.
The case will be called, again, for report on April 8.