22-year-old Calvin Lawrence of Lot 101 Leopold Street, Werk-en-Rust, was before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts this morning. He was remanded after being read charges relating to three counts of arson.
The first charge states that on June 24, 2021, at Lot 1 George Street, Werk-en-Rust, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling house valued $18M, containing articles valued $6M, property of Collin Bentley.
Secondly, it is alleged that on June 24, 2021, at Lot 1 George Street, Werk-en-Rust, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling house valued $38M, owned by Nalini Baboolall, containing articles valued $16M belonging to Kevin Phillips.
It is also alleged that on June 24, 2021, at Lot 1 George Street, Werk-en-Rust, he unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a dwelling house valued $250M containing articles amounting to $30M, property of Hardat Maniram.
He was not required to plead to the charges. Meanwhile attorney-at-law Paul Fung-A-Fat made an application for his bail but was unsuccessful as the man was remanded until July 21.
Fung-A-Fat told the court that the man has indicated that he is innocent of the offense. He said that his client has informed him that he was not at the scene and that video footage shown to him by the police, has not captured him at the scene either. He said that Lawrence has indicated that persons at the scene claim they saw him there and hence the charges were put against him. He added that his client was in custody for six days since being arrested and has made no confessions to te police.
However, the Court Prosecutor objected to bail being granted. He highlighted that the offense is of a serious nature and that the police has a hard time locating the accused. He added that as counsel said, there is video footage to be shown to the court. The Magistrate then remanded the man.
Reports are that the fire completely gutted two buildings and damaged another at the corner of D’Urban and George streets, Werk-en-Rust, during the wee hours of the morning on June 24.
The fire destroyed a building that housed a vulcanizing shop owned by Phillips and his residence, another house and damaged the western side of Elegance Jewellery and Pawn Shop. One of the buildings also housed several Venezuelan Nationals.
