REPEAT offender Vernon Seecharran was freed from a break-and-enter charge after New Amsterdam Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs Marcus ruled that the evidence led by the prosecution was based on hearsay.

Reviewing the evidence, the magistrate noted that while Detective Dwayne Brathwaithe gave physical evidence, a lot of it was hearsay.

Another witness, Feroze Ali, testified at length. He told the court how the Masjid came to have the generator. Apart from these two witnesses, no other testified. As such, the evidence is insufficient to allow the defendant to lead a defence. Consequently, the matter was dismissed. “You are free to go”, she told the overjoyed Seecharran.

Responding, Seecharran, who had been remanded to prison after failing to post his bail, was full of praise for the magistrate’s ruling.

“Thank you Your Worship! God bless you!” he shouted.

Seecharan, of Gay Park, Greater New Amsterdam, was alleged to have broken and entered the storeroom of the Gay Park Masjid, from where he stole a generator valued $750,000, and five electric stand fans, totalling $817,000 in value.

Investigations revealed that the caretaker Jafarally (one name given), had secured the storeroom on December 15, 2013, but on returning on January 1, observed that the room had been broken into and the items missing.

Inquiries were made in the neighbourhood, and the defendant was arrested after he allegedly attempted to sell the stolen generator to a Muslim devotee.

(By Jeune Bailey Vankeric)