TWENTY-three-year-old Sasha Mentore and her 21-year-old cousin, Melissa Isaacs, appeared yesterday before Providence Magistrate Leron Daly jointly charged with allegedly stealing Raymond Nandlall’s car from his residence at Parker Street, Providence, East Bank Demerara on November 5, and carting off several valuables from his home while he was asleep.

Particulars of the offence allege that apart from the vehicle, the two women also carted off a DVD player, an amplifier, a laptop and other items, to the total value of $1.65M.

Represented by Attorney-at-Law Leslie Sobers, the women pleaded not guilty to the charge read to them, and the attorney asked that they be released on bail. He told the court the offence is bailable and the allegation against his clients is false.

Sobers explained that Mentore and Nandlall share a relationship, and she would normally use the vehicle to go out. He said that on the day in question, the complainant became fearful that Mentore would not return the car because she had no driver’s licence, although he had told her to take the car to her cousin’s residence.

The attorney noted that a report was strangely made at the station alleging that the women had stolen the articles, which were in the car.

However, the police prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant, informed the court that on the day in question, Mentore had invited her cousin over to Nandlall’s home, and when Nandlall had fallen asleep, the defendants uplifted the items mentioned in the charge and made good their escape.

Grant did not object to the defendants being granted bail, but asked that same be granted in a substantial amount, to ensure their return for trial. The two women were ordered to post bail in the sum of $300,000, and to return to court on November 25 for statements. (Clestine Juan)