Cousins in court for stealing saltfish

Cousins Cajetan Thomas, 33, and Alvin Thomas, 20, of Valencia and Sangre Grande, appeared before Couva Senior Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar yesterday and were remanded into custody.

The charge alleged that the men stole the saltfish valued $4,084 from the Point Lisas port between April 5 and 7.

They were not called on to plea. The cousins were charged by acting Cpl Bobby Noyan of the Couva Police Station. In objecting to bail, court prosecutor Sgt Sharon Corbett told the magistrate that a “trace” was required to determine if the men had previous convictions or pending matters. However, attorney Martin Montrose who represented the men, argued that the police had enough time to trace his clients since they had been in custody since last Friday.

The attorney said the accused men were threatened and forced to clean the cells while detained at the station. The magistrate then adjourned the matter to April 19.