RONALD Balgobin, who opted to remodel his yard fencing and trim his neighbours’ plants in the process, found himself facing a charge of ‘causing injury to growing things’ when he appeared before Sparendaam Magistrate Alex Moore on Tuesday, 4th December.   Balgobin pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stated that on Monday, 12th November, at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, he destroyed several growing plants belonging to Savitri Singh and valued at $56,000.

According to the virtual complainant, the defendant chopped one coconut tree, two cherry trees, one sour sop tree, one whitie tree, and one “fancy” flowering tree.   

However, after perusing the facts before him, Magistrtae Moore requested a Rural Constable to estimate the actual value of the trees in order that compensation might be granted the complainant.

The defendant was then released on his own recognizance until 21st December, 2012, when the matter would be recalled for report.