Money offerings stolen

The four, two men and their wives were arrested last week at their homes following intense investigations by San Fernando CID officers. They are all set to appear before a San Fernando magistrate today charged with sacrilege.

According to the Larceny Act of Trinidad and Tobago, Chapter 11 : 12, Any person who (a) breaks and enters any place of divine worship and commits any arrestable offence therein; or (b) breaks out of any place of divine worship, having committed any arrestable offence therein, is guilty of sacrilege and liable to imprisonment of up to ten years.

According to police reports the four - a 23-year-old mechanic and his 20-year- wife and a 27-yearold man and his 23-year-old wife broke into the Divine Life Society Shiv Temple located at 107 Picton Settlement, Diamond Village sometime between June 15 and June 21 and stole five speaker boxes, five tripods, two fans and over 3,000 in cash. The doors to the temple were also damaged by the intruders.

President of the Temple Frank Deonarine, 70, said he assisted police in recovering the five speaker boxes along with the tripods and fans.

He said three of the speaker boxes, each valued $5, 000, were sold for $1500 to someone in Caparo.

Deonarine said he led police to another a house in Quinam in Siparia where another speaker box was recovered. He said cash from the donation boxes was not recovered.

Deonarine, a father of eight said he tries his best to uplift his community and was saddened that people would even consider going into a place of worship to steal.

Charges were laid by PC Andre of the San Fernando CID. Detective Cpl Khan and PC Rampersad of the San Fernando CID assisted in investigations.