Prisons officer Roger Miguel pleaded not guilty and was granted $250,000 bail yesterday when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Indrani Cendeno in the Arima First Court charged with the removal of a prohibited item from the Golden Grove Prison.
As an alternative, Miguel was given a cash payment of $10,000, either of which has to be approved by a clerk of the peace. The 39-year-old, who has 19 years service, was arrested last week in relation to the theft of $56,000 from the canteen at the Golden Grove Prison, Arouca, where he worked.
Two other people were key suspects in the case. One has agreed to become a state witness while the other, an inmate, is yet to be charged.
The money was discovered missing on January 4 and is believed to have been stolen between December 23 and January 4. After the money was discovered missing $19,000 was recovered. The matter was adjourned to February 16.