A NINETEEN-year-old construction worker, on Friday, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, on three counts of arson and was released on $1.9 million bail.

Anthony Sookhoo also called “Vishal” denied the charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Dylon Bess.  The case was adjourned until January 13, 2022.

The first charge states that on June 24, 2021, at Lot 1 George and D’Urban Streets, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a building valued at $38M, property of Nalini Baboolall, and articles valued at $10M belonging to Kevin Phillips.

The second charge states that on the same day and at the said location, Sookhoo unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a building valued at $150M and articles valued at $30M, property of Hardat Maniram.

According to the third charge, on the same day and at the said location, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling house valued at $18M and articles valued at $6M, property of Colin Bentley.

According to reports, the fire left 18 persons homeless, including 12 Venezuelan migrants, and Kevin Phillips, the owner of the vulcanising shop where the fire is suspected to have started.

According to Phillips, he was awakened around 01:00 hours on the day in question by the incessant barking of his dogs. Upon investigation, he saw two male cyclists making their way from the side of his property. Upon making checks, he noticed that the building was on fire.

While the firefighters managed to contain the blaze after arriving on scene, the western wall of the Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop, located on D’Urban Street, between Camp and George Streets was damaged.

In July, Calvin Lawrence, a 22-year-old Leopold Street resident was charged in connection with the arson. Sookhoo was arrested recently by police.