ON REMAND. Messenger Corey André Rock on his way to court to answer the charge of stealing $1.4 million from the Central Bank. Just over a week ago, the Central Bank went public with the admission that over a million dollars in $100 notes had gone missing from the island's top financial institution. (Picture by Gregory Waldron)

by HEATHER-LYNN EVANSON

A MESSENGER charged with stealing $1.4 million fromthe Central Bankwill spend the next 28 days on remand despite a stirring plea from one of his attorneys.

Corey Andre Rock, 25, a messenger, of Tom Bend Road, Ashton Hall, St Peter, was not required to plead to the charge of stealing the money from the Central Bank between July 1, 2006, and October 30 this year.

Rock was remanded to HMP Dodds by Magistrate Christopher Birch and will reappear in court on December 17.

"The only injury is injury to reputation, his and that of the complainant, and it is highly likely that a certain course will be taken," attorney Andrew Pilgrim told the Bridgetown Traffic Court in his application for bail.

Pilgrim was responding to prosecutor Sergeant Glenda Carter's objection to Rock's being released on bail.

She pointed to the nature and seriousness of the matter, and said investigations were still at "a critical stage".

"Others are in custody and others are being sought, and I believe that if he is granted bail there may be some interference or hindrance," she said.

However, Pilgrim, who appeared with Alan Carter for the accused, said Rock was no flight risk,had no prior convictions or charges pending and had given "full disclosure" to lawmen during his last seven days in custody. In fact, said Pilgrim, Rock was the one "fuelling the investigations".

"The real question is quantum and whether [his sureties] can support the quantum," Pilgrim told the court.

Pointing to others, including those in his profession, who have been granted bail for similar matters, the attorney said the courts should providea level playing field.

"The general trend where we have matters under the Theft Act, where there are no acts of violence, oughtto be distinguished from offences where there are allegations of the use of a cutlass or firearm," he said.

"At this stage, we are saying he is not going anywhere and he can be governed by the courts or the church.

"At this stage, we would not want to insist prison is the place for him while we get our systems in place," the attorney told the court.

Magistrate Birch told Pilgrim that he would follow precedents in other cases he had named.

"You will be remanded in custody for the next 28 days," he told Rock.