THE taxi driver who was in custody pending investigations into the alleged theft of some gold jewellery from a Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara caterer was released on Friday after spending four days in the lock-ups at the Vigilance Police Station. He was placed on station bail with the requirement that he has to re-visit the station as investigations continue.

Police said yesterday that the taxi driver was released after the 72-hour holding period had expired, but statements had been taken from both parties and from another individual.

Arrested on Tuesday, the taxi driver insisted that he had not taken the caterer’s jewels — worth $500,000 and comprising a necklace, a band and a pair of earrings — from the woman’s bag which she had left on the back seat of the car on November 24.

Caterer Kowsilla Beharry, called ‘Aunty Data’, said she had hired the vehicle to take her from Courbane Park to Sixth Street, Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara, to deliver food she had prepared for a function, and had placed her handbag in the car when she had exited the vehicle to deliver the food. She returned to the vehicle and it took her home.

After she had reached her gate, she opened her bag to discover the jewels missing, and she unsuccessfully tried to stop the taxi from speeding off.

The woman said she reported the matter to the taxi base at Lusignan, and also to the police.

Meanwhile, owner of the taxi service, Nasser Khan, told the Guyana Chronicle that he had spoken with Beharry when she had visited his place of business accompanied by two men she had identified as policemen, and he had noted her complaint.
Khan said he asked the driver in question whether he had taken the woman’s jewels, but the man, who is attached to the service but operates his own car, denied taking them.

He added that the man had been with the service for three years, and had never been involved in any such thing.

Khan said he had also gone to the Vigilance Police Station, where he had lodged a report.