Mother of 2 arraign for handling 3 of The Tablets Stolen From S.V.T.H – “32 year old Lena Louise Gabourel pleaded not guilty and is out on bail of $2,000”
by Anita Nembhard-Flowers
Belize City, Mon. Jan. 26, 2021
A Belize City mother is one of many persons who are being charged in connection with the disappearance of 96 tablets stolen from Sadie Vernon High School in Belize city during a school burglary which occurred on Thursday January 21st..
On Thursday January 21, the principal of Sadie Vernon Technical High School discovered that an entire box of the brand new tablets were missing from their facility. The burglary was caught on a police surveillance camera in the vicinity of the school.
Gabourel appeared this morning before Senior Magistrate, Tricia Pitts-Anderson in Court #3 where she was read a single charge of handling stolen goods.
Allegations are that on Friday, January 22, 2021, she had 3 black 10 inch Logic brand tablets with various serial number that were stolen from Sadie Vernon HS, value $500 each, all to a total of $1,500, and the property of the Government of Belize.
In court, Gaboural was unrepresented where she pleaded not guilty to the charge.
There was no objection by the prosecutor Corporal Christopher Smith regarding bail for the mother and as a result, Senior Magistrate, Pitts-Anderon granted her bail in the sum of $2,000 plus one surety of the same amount.
But Gabourel was in debt to the court in the sum of $3,000 for one of two SOE violations she has pleaded guilty to back in 2020.
The mother begged the court for time to pay her outstanding fines and due to the Pandemic and the present economic situation many are faced with, Senior magistrate Pitts-Anderson gave her more time to pay the fine.
Lena Louise Gabourel is due back in Court #2 on March 15, 2021.
Gabourel also has her next court date set for this day in Court #4 for drug trafficking.
On Thursday, January 21, 2021, 5 other people (who remain at-large) gained entry into the Principal Office at Sadie Vernon High School in Belize City and stole the Tablets.
According to police the 5 men stole 96 Tablets that were in 1 large box inside the principal’s office.
In a press briefing this morning (January 25th.) – ASP Alejandro Cowo informed the media that 54 of the tablets that were stolen have been recovered so far, 3 of the tablets were located in the possession of Lena Gabourel – who has been arrested and charged for “handling stolen goods”. Another 16 tablets were located in an abandoned house, and another 35 were located within the school grounds.; 5 men are still at-large for their participation in the theft. On Thursday January 21, the principal of Sadie Vernon Technical High School discovered that an entire box of the brand new tablets were missing from their facility. The burglary was caught on a police surveillance camera in the vicinity of the school.
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ARTICLE QUIZ: Who was Sadie Vernon, the name-sake of the High School in Belize City.