Bharrat Jagdeo River Bridge cable thief gets 12 months jail

September 4 2026

A 39-year-old unemployed man has been sentenced to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing copper cable from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge (BJDRB).

Roy Morgan, who has no fixed place of abode, was charged with simple larceny, contrary to Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

Morgan was arrested on Wednesday, September 2, in connection with the theft of approximately 90 feet of four-conductor copper cable from the bridge between August 23 and September 1, 2026.

He appeared on Friday, September 4, at the Diamond/Grove Magistrate’s Court #2 before Magistrate Dylon Bess, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.

Previous reports indicated that the stolen cable, rated at 350 thousand circular mils (kcmil) per conductor, was valued at approximately GY$1.620 million.

The cable forms part of the electrical system powering LED lights installed along steel poles on the bridge’s high span. The lights are powered by a generator located beneath the bridge and are used to display different colours.

According to police, the theft was discovered after one side of the bridge failed to illuminate on August 31 in the colours of the Trinidad and Tobago flag to mark the country’s 64th Independence Anniversary. Bridge personnel subsequently discovered that the copper cable had been removed.

Police said the cable was believed to have been stolen sometime between midnight on August 23 and 09:00 hrs on September 1.

Sources believe more than one person may have been involved in cutting and transporting the heavy cable. Morgan was reportedly wearing a safety helmet and reflective vest, which may have been intended to make him appear as a bridge maintenance worker.

He was also reportedly found with cutting tools.

Investigations into the theft are continuing.