THREE alleged cattle rustlers were on Tuesday released on $60,000 bail each, by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for stealing cows.

Curtis Charles, 22; Quison Frank, 18; and Ivor Rodrigues, 28; all from Tabatinga, Lethem, were charged with stealing four heifers valued $480,000 the property of Walter Martin, between August 21 and August 24, at Coke Bridge, North Savannah.

According to the facts read out in court by Police Prosecutor, Arwin Moore, Martin secured his ranch with 13 heads of cattle on August 21, 2017 and left. However, upon his return the next day he found that four of the animals were missing.

Martin suspected that is was Charles who was involved in the theft and contacted him. Charles confessed that it was his friends who had taken him to the area where the cows were. He then took Martin to another area where he handed over two heifers and disclosed that he had slaughtered the other animals.

Prosecutor Moore objected to the trio being released on bail citing the seriousness and prevalence of such crimes in the particular area.
The Chief Magistrate, however, released the men on bail and transferred the matter to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for September 5. The men also have to report to the Lethem Police Station every Friday.