VIJAI Singh, also known as Kumar Singh, was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton charged with simple larceny. Singh, 36, of 33 Fourth Street, Alexander Village, initially pleaded guilty to the charge which said, on May 6, at Mandela Avenue, he stole two pedal cycles, valued $16,000 each, belonging to Imtiaz Roopnarine.
Singh allegedly jumped Roopnarine’s fence and carried away the bicycles. He told the court he is the “bad egg” around the neighbourhood, and whenever something is missing, he is always blamed.
He said he pleaded guilty because he was threatened by someone that he would be beaten if he is out on the streets. The magistrate changed his guilty plea based on this explanation.
Singh, who said he is a porter at Stabroek Market, maintained that he did not steal the bicycles. He gave a different address in court, 158 Third Street, Alexander Village, which prompted the magistrate to remand him to prison.
He was immediately sent off to Court Ten for a trial date.