Cricket coach acquitted of theft

A 43-year-old cricket coach who was charged with stealing $6,740 in cricket gear belonging to the visiting Australian cricket team earlier this year, was acquitted yesterday of any wrongdoing. Vincent Marchan, of Jenvy Lane, Couva, was discharged by Magistrate Melvin Daniel in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Magistrates’ Court. The theft of the cricket gear made headlines throughout the Caribbean and the rest of the world. Marchan was acquitted after the State informed the court that it was unable to serve two key Australian team members, manager Steve Bernard and skipper Steve Waugh. As a result the prosecution never got off the ground and the charge was dismissed.

Attorney Taramatie Ramdass appeared for the State, while Kenneth Thompson represented Marchan. Marchan was charged on June 27 by Inspector Michael Modeste of the St Joseph CID for allegedly removing 45 items, including bats, pads and uniforms from the Hilton Trinidad on May 21.  The cricket gear belonged to the Australian cricket team which had departed for St Lucia to complete their final One-Day International. Following his discharge, Marchan told Newsday that he was innocent of the charge. “I worked with the Australian cricket team,” he added. Marchan said he had been working as a welfare officer for the West Indies Cricket Board since 1988. His duties included securing the cricket equipment of the visiting Test teams while in Trinidad.

“I had to ensure that the cricket gear leave Piarco Airport, go to the Hilton Trinidad, to the Queen’s Park Oval, and back to the airport. I was there to make sure that everything was okay.” Marchan said he remembered May 21. He said he packed all the cricket equipment into the Australian team bus at the Hilton Trinidad and headed to Piarco. But on arrival at Piarco, the Australians were informed that the 87 pieces of luggage could not go on the small aircraft to St Lucia. Marchan said some of the equipment remained in Trinidad at Piarco. Before the Australians departed, Marchan said he received items from the visitors. “Steve Waugh gave me a T-Shirt, a bat, a hat, and a pair of gloves. Jason Gillespie gave me a T-Shirt. Brett Lee gave me a T-Shirt. The team physiotherapist gave me a couple of balls for coaching purposes. I have had a long standing relationship with the Australians. They are my friends,” he said.

Marchan said he was saddened when he heard that the Australians had lost their gear. “If I had stolen these gears, I had the opportunity to hide them, but they were given to me.” The cricket coach said he was plying his taxi for hire in Chaguanas on June 24 when he was picked up by the police. The police, according to Marchan, found cricket equipment in his car trunk. He told the police that he had been given those items by the Australians. He was taken to the St Joseph Police Station where he was charged. Six months later, Marchan has been cleared. “I feel a great sense of relief. Trinidad and Tobago will know I am not a thief. I am a hardworking welfare officer for the Australians. I feel good that the matter has been dismissed,” he said. Marchan is uncertain as to his future with visiting teams. Only time will tell if I am hired again,” he added.