SIX ex-employees of Patsan Trading Services Limited appeared in court yesterday, charged with breaking into the company’s John Street, Campbellville, Georgetown bond and stealing 550 cases of powdered milk valued $15.5M. Germain Tulloch, who was the Assistant Bond Supervisor, of Lot 22 Bel Air; porters Jose Rodney, of Lot 254 Bluesackie Drive, South Ruimveldt Park; Cordell Minoo, of Lot 54 Blygezight Gardens and Ramando Persaud, of Lot 97 Campbell Avenue, Campbellville, as well as driver Parmanand Persaud also known as Cecil Persaud, of Lot 23 Annandale West and another porter, Marlon Baichu, of Lot 17 Richard’s Town, Lusignan, on the East Coast of Demerara, too, all pleaded not guilty before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Particulars of the joint charge said, between August 28 and September 21, they committed the break and enter.
Police Sergeant Gordon Mansfield, prosecuting, said, on August 28, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Patsan received certain information and viewed images on a surveillance camera that showed the defendants removing the booty.
Attorney-at-law Mr. Arun Gajraj, representing Tulloch, Baichu and Minoo, requested reasonable bail and his colleague, Mr. Patrice Henry, for Parmanand Persaud, argued that the amount mentioned in the charge was exaggerated.
The others, Rodney and Ramando Persaud were represented by Mr. Paul Fung-a-Fat, who told the court that, when the defendants were first arrested, they were informed that the value of the goods was $2M and, suddenly, it rose to $15.5M.
The prosecutor asked that the men be placed on substantial bail and the surety was set at $500,000 each until November 1.