A 19-year-old, Leopold Street Resident became the second person to be charged for setting fire to a Durban Street building. He was placed on $1.9 million bail.
The teen, Anthony Vishal Sookhoo, a Construction Worker, appeared Magistrate, Dylon Bess in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and was denied the charge.
According to the police, Sookhoo on June 24, last, at George and Durban Streets unlawfully and maliciously set fire to a building valued at $38M property of Nalini Baboolall and articles valued at $10 Million owned by Kevin Phillips.
It was further alleged that on the same day, he also set fire to a building at $18 M and to items worth $6m and the property of Colin Bentley.
Additionally, Sookhoo was also charged for setting fire to another building worth $150 M in the same vicinity and to articles worth $30 M, property of Haridat Maniram.
The Police Prosecutor objected to bail based on the value of the damage and the concern that the defendant might commit a similar offense.
That objection was however not accepted by Magistrate Bess and Sookhoo was granted bail in the sum of 1.9 M and told to return to court in January.
Sookhoo became the second person to be charged. Back on July 22 Calvin Lawrence was also charged. He was remanded to prison for the crime.
According to the reports, it was noted that one of the tenants of the now destroyed premises, was awakened around 01:00 hrs by the incessant barking of his dogs. On investigating the commotion, he saw two male cyclists making their way from the side of his property.
Subsequently, his neighbours raised an alarm. He later tried to contain the blaze which quickly spread to several buildings in the closely Knitted area, among them the People’s Choice Pawnshop.
