Another Health Ministry driver remanded for stealing COVID-19 vaccination cards
(Charged: Mark Samuels)
A driver attached to the Ministry of Health who is accused of stealing 66 blank COVID-19 vaccination cards was on Monday remanded to prison on a charge of break and enter and larceny.
31-year-old Mark Samuels of 276 South Ruimveldt, Georgetown appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Issacs- Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that between August 22 and August 23, 2021, at Brickdam, Georgetown, he broke into the vaccination center of the Ministry of Health, and stole 66 COVID-19 vaccination cards valued at $1,014.
He was represented by attorney-at-law Dexter Todd. During a bail application, the lawyer told the court that his client is innocent. The lawyer went on to tell the court that the alleged stolen cards were not found on his client neither were they found in his home.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Annalisa Brummell stated that during the period mentioned in the charge, a female nurse went to work and discovered that the lock on the cupboard in which the cards were stored was wrenched open.
Upon checking, it was discovered that 66 COVID-19 vaccinations cards were missing. The nurse informed her supervisor who reported the matter to the Police. An investigation was launched and Samuels was arrested and charged with the present offence.
The Prosecutor objected to bail being granted to Samuels citing the serious nature of the offence. She also told the court that there is CCTV footage showing the man entering the premises. The Magistrate after listening to both sides remanded Samuels to prison until September 27, 2021.
Just last week, Avinash Rameshwar, 27, of Sister’s Village, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was remanded to prison after he allegedly admitted to stealing 12 blank COVID-19 vaccination books.
Rameshwar who is a driver attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court where two charges- one for forgery and another for fraud were read to him. He was also remanded to prison.
In 2018, Samuels was charged for fraudulently obtaining a little over $1 million in diesel from GuyOil.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that between December 12th, 2017 and January 7th, 2018, at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, he obtained $1,054,789 in diesel from GuyOil on Regent Street by presenting a cheque in the name of Clyde Fowler, knowing same to be forged.
He was granted $70,000 bail at his first court appearance.
Conditionality for bail was that he report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, every Friday until the completion of the trial.
