A 55-year-old cattle farmer from Corentyne, Berbice, was on Wednesday granted $300,000 bail after appearing in court on a charge of cattle larceny involving three cows valued at $1 million.
Mukesh Binda, called “Patch-head,” of #43 Village, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the #51 Magistrate’s Court, where the indictable charge was read to him. He was not required to plead.
The allegation states that on May 16, 2026, at Johanna Backdam, Black Bush Polder, Binda stole three heads of cattle belonging to 31-year-old cattle and rice farmer Parmanand Toolsie, called “Ranjeet,” of Lot 12 Johanna South, Black Bush Polder.
The charge was laid under Section 176 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.
According to police investigations, Toolsie owns more than 40 heads of cattle, including a grey bull, a dark brown bull, and a grey heifer branded “89NC,” which are reared in the Johanna Backdam area.
Police said that on the morning of May 16, Toolsie and his employee visited the ranch, checked the cattle, and later released them into the backlands to graze. However, later that afternoon, while penning the animals, they discovered that eight cattle were missing.
Investigators said that the following morning, acting on information received, Toolsie went to Binda’s residence at #43 Village, where he allegedly found five of his missing cattle secured inside a pen located behind the suspect’s home.
Reports stated that when confronted, Binda allegedly told Toolsie that the cattle had followed his own flock into the pen the previous evening. Police said Binda then opened the pen, allowing the cattle to escape.
Further searches reportedly failed to locate the remaining three missing animals, which were valued at approximately $1 million.
Police later contacted Binda at the Whim Police Station and informed him of the allegation. He denied stealing the cattle and reportedly maintained that the animals had wandered into his pen on their own.
Binda was subsequently arrested and charged by Detective Sergeant McPherson following investigations into the matter.
The case was adjourned to June 17, 2026, for report and transfer to the Mibikuri Magistrate’s Court.
