A MINER, charged with stealing another man’s cellular phone, was remanded to prison yesterday, fined $30,000 and ordered to do six months community service for possession of a narcotic.

Emanuel Laurel, 20, of Lot 10 East La Penitence, pleaded guilty to the latter offence but denied, before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that he stole a Blackberry phone, valued $40,000, from Mahindra Sahadeo on October 18.
Laurel admitted he had one gramme of cannabis (marijuana).
Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said Sahadeo was walking along Brickdam, also in Georgetown, while having a conversation on his phone when Laurel approached from behind him, fired a cuff to his face, snatched his phone and tried to escape.
However, Sahadeo raised an alarm and gave chase behind Laurel, attracting the attention of police ranks who, subsequently apprehended the thief and retrieved the phone.