A 27-year-old goldminer, Joel Johnson, also known as Earnest James of Old Road, Eccles, and 22-year-old Quincy Wilson of McDoom, who works on the wharf, were, on Friday, March 27, 2020, remanded to prison by Magistrate Dylon Bess, having been charged with ‘break and enter and larceny’.

Both Joel Johnson and Quincy Wilson denied the charge which stated that, between Monday, March 23, 2020, and Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at First Street, McDoom, East Bank Demerara, they broke and entered the dwelling house of Lisa Ahmad and stole one Kenneth Cole wrist watch valued at $30,000, one Guess wrist watch valued at $12,000, four pairs of gold earrings valued at $30,000, one gold ring valued at $12,000, one gold and diamond ring valued at $60,000 and a quantity of artificial jewellery valued at $10,000.

According to the report, one of the accused and Ahmad are living in the same area and are known to each other as they usually walked pass each other. Between Monday, March 23, 2020, and Tuesday, March 24, 2020, Ahmad secured her home, leaving everything the way they were and retired to bed. Ahmad was awakened by a loud noise at about 01:20 hours on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, and proceeded to check in her kitchen which she observed was ransacked. She immediately went to make checks where her jewellery box and other articles mentioned in the charge were, only to discover that they were missing. Ahmad raised an alarm and her neighbour responded by telling her that two men who had broken into her house were arrested by the police. An investigation was conducted. Johnson and Wilson were told of the allegation and they denied. The police checked for stolen articles and recovered Ahmad’s jewellery box.

Prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to the defendants being granted bail, on the grounds that Joel Johnson, also known as Earnest James, was on bail, having been charged with attempted murder. The prosecutor added that an arrest warrant was issued for Johnson. He was therefore not likely to appear for the trial if granted bail.

Wilson, in attempt to defend himself, told the court that he did not know Johnson and that he was on the wharf, at the time of the incident.

Magistrate Bess proceeded to remand both Johnson and Wilson to prison until Friday, May 29, 2020.