2 couples in court for sacrilege

Appearing before Senior Magistrate Cheryl-Anne Antoine were Mahadeo, 23; her common-law husband Nicholas Hosein, 26; Jason Balkaran, 26, and his common-law wife Veronica Mohammed, 20, all of Picton Settlement.

The charge read to the couples alleged that they broke and entered the Divine Life Society Shiv Mandir in Diamond Village and stole three speaker boxes, two sound barrier speakers, two fans and a box containing 3,500 in cash - altogether amounting to $24,550.

The four were arrested over the weekend and charged by PC Adam Andre under Section 26 of the Larceny Act. The break in occurred between June 15 and June 21. The charge carries a maximum sentence, on conviction, of ten years’ in prison.

Court prosecutor Cleyon Seedan told Magistrate Antoine that the charge was laid indictably and as a result, none of the accused were called on to enter a plea as the case has to be determined before a judge and jury, if so ordered, at the end of a preliminary inquiry.

The magistrate granted Hosein and Balkaran bail in the sum of $50,000 with a surety or the alternative of 15,000 cash deposit. Mahadeo and Mohammed were granted $25,000 bail with a surety with a cash alternative of $10,000.

The matter was postponed to August 28.