An alleged gang which has been robbing businesses and persons at gunpoint of millions during the year in all three counties was yesterday remanded to prison by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton.
A teenaged girl who was allegedly discovered in a car with some of the men at Suddie with an M16 rifle and several live rounds was also remanded to prison.
The six men and the teen were said to have been caught at a roadblock at Suddie on the Essequibo Coast in two cars. The police intercepted them and recovered an M16 rifle along with ammunition.
The men are accused of being involved in the $10 million robbery at Pure Diamond in August, a robbery of a Digicel outlet in Grove, robbery of persons at a liquor store in Line Path, Corentyne Berbice, robbery at Richmond, Essequibo, unlawful possession and attempted murder.
Willet Kyte, 21, of Land of Canaan, Errol Rockey Profitt, 21, of Parika and Delon Thompson who were jointly charged were not required to plead to five counts of robbery under arms committed in Berbice. An arrest warrant was issued for a fourth man, Winston McKenzie who is also charged with the trio.
Nazim Benni of 2346 Hosana Street, North Ruimveldt and Andre Crandon also known as Romeo Crandon, 19, of Islington, EBB were not required to plead to discharging a loaded firearm with intent and robbery under arms committed at Pure Diamond Limited.
Crandon and a 15-year-old girl were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Crandon, Benni, Alexis Gomes, 40, of 6 Riverview, Ruimveldt and Brian Williams, a taxi driver who resides at 178 Vryheid’s Lust were not required to plead to three counts of robbery under arms committed on a Digicel store at Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD). Crandon was also not required to plead to a single count of robbery under arms committed at Meadowbank wharf as well as possession of narcotics. Crandon along with Benni and Gomes were not required to plead to an additional count of robbery under arms committed at Houston, EBD.
Kyte, Crandon, Profit and Thompson were not required to plead to three other counts of robbery under arms committed on the Essequibo Coast. They all appeared at Court Five of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on July 25 at Houston, EBD, Crandon, Benni and Gomes armed with guns robbed Bruce and Eddie Vieira Enterprise of $1,665,028. On August 13 at Georgetown, Benni and Crandon allegedly discharged a loaded firearm at Fredrick Whyte with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm. They also allegedly robbed St Clair Mohabir of $10 million, property of Pure Diamond.
On August 31 at Grove, EBD while armed with a gun they allegedly robbed Shane Freeman of a cellular phone and Keenan Branford of a shoulder bag and cellular phone, one laptop, a mouse, a scanner, $125,000 cash and 16 cellular phones, totalling $679,090, property of Digicel.
Seiko watch
On September 5 at Meadowbank wharf Crandon allegedly while armed with a gun robbed Rajin Kumar of $560,000 cash and a Seiko watch. On October 7 at Line Path, Corentyne, Berbice, Kyte, Profit, Thompson and McKenzie allegedly robbed Aaron Suknandan of one cellular phone and $35,000 cash while being armed with guns and knives.
They also allegedly discharged a loaded firearm at Harrichand Ketwaru with intent to commit murder. He was also robbed of two cellular phones, one wallet, one gold chain and $30,000 cash.
Moreover, the quartet allegedly robbed Jagdeshwar Sarran of two cellular phones, $170,000 cash, one motor car, one wallet, US$200, $64,000 cash Guyana currency, one driver’s licence and a hire car licence. Rohan Dewnarayan was robbed of one cellular phone, driver’s licence, US$150 and $40,000 cash Guyana currency.
On October 10 at Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, Kyte, Crandon, Profit and Thompson allegedly robbed Vanessa Stoby of $180,000 cash, US$400, a cellular phone, one Rav 4 motor vehicle and other items to the total of $4,117,000. At the same place the men allegedly robbed Roopchandra Persaud of $40,000 cash, US$150 and six cellular phones, all to the total value of $574,060 and Kennard Coates of two gold rings and a gold chain valued at $500,000.
On October 11, Crandon and the 15-year-old girl allegedly had in their possession at Suddie, Essequibo Coast, one Bush Master M16 rifle and 41 live 5.56 ammunition when they were not the holders of a firearm licence.
Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh represented Benni. He told the court that his client is a businessman who is married with three children. He added that his client’s wife was still hospitalised after giving birth to their last child the day before. He stated that his client’s business cannot continue if he is not around.
Police prosecutor Shellon Daniels objected to bail for Benni stating that not only money was taken when the offence was committed but also the security guard was shot and injured at Pure Diamond.
Hugh also represented the teenaged girl and stated that she was 15- years-old but her birth was never registered. He stated that she resides at Mainstay and asked the court to treat her as a juvenile and release her into the care of her mother or on reasonable bail. He added that the teen works as a domestic.
Prosecutor Daniels also objected to bail for the teen saying that she told the police that she was 18 years old when she was arrested. She added that Mainstay is a big area and if granted bail the teen would not be easy to locate.
Unblemished
Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes represented Williams. According to the attorney his client has worked as a taxi driver partly with his office for years and he has an unblemished record. He stated that on the day of the incident Williams was in Parika and they were trying to get the records from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to prove that. He added that Williams’ sister has worked with him for ten years and he knows that his client comes from a good family.
Attorney-at-law Tameshwar Sarwan represented Gomes and he stated that his client was forced to make a statement which he did not sign. Attorney-at-law Mohamed Zafar appeared for Kyte, Profit and Thompson. All the attorneys requested bail.
However police prosecutor Daniels objected to bail for all the accused. Responding to the application made by Hughes the prosecutor stated that acting on information received the police contacted Williams and he gave a statement saying that he was at home on the day of the incident contrary to what the attorney said about him being in Parika.
She further stated that the police contacted Crandon and based on this they were able to get the others and some, she said, admitted to the offences.
The robberies took place during the period of August to October this year.
The cases for the men were transferred to their respective jurisdictions. Kyte, Profit and Thompson will return to the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on November 1.