The three men accused of robbing the Region Ten Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of $5M were yesterday admitted to bail in the sum of $500,000 each by acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It is alleged that on February 17, at Republic Avenue, McKenzie, Linden, Mervin Blackman, 20, Samuel Rodney, 20, and Cecil Pollard, 29, being armed with a gun, robbed Compton Daly of $5M. The money was property of the RDC.
Rodney is the son of the Region Ten Regional Executive Officer Henry Rodney and resides at 606 Retrieve McKenzie Linden. Pollard, also a Lindener, lives at 1451 Amelia’s Ward, while, Blackman resides at M24 Critchlow Street, Tucville, Georgetown. The jointly charged trio was not required to plead to the indictable charge of robbery under arms, when it was read at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
In presenting the prosecution’s case, Police Sergeant Lionel Harvey told the court that on the day in question at about 2:40 hrs, Blackman and Rodney, both employees of the RDC, had contacted Pollard, whom they instructed to find six other men so that they all could rob the RDC office.
According to Harvey, the men used a gas cutting torch to cut a canister in which the money was kept after holding the security guard at gunpoint and severely beating him. It was further alleged that the trio buried some of the money, after dividing some among themselves.
The prosecution made a request for the men to be denied bail, citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. Harvey also said that if granted bail there was a likelihood that the men may not return to stand trial.
When asked about the other alleged perpetrators, he told the Magistrate that efforts are still being made by ranks to locate and arrest the men, for whom they have only call names.
Attorneys Glenn Hanoman and Adrian Thompson, who represented the defendants, expressed shock at the prosecution’s objection to bail, noting that their clients had already been placed on $25,000 station bail each. “This is ironic my worship. The same people who had admitted the defendants to station bail are now standing before this honourable court asking that the men be denied their pre-trial liberty!” Hanoman exclaimed. Further, the lawyer said that after being placed on station bail, the accused persons had always reported to the police when required to do so. He argued that his clients have demonstrated a willingness to return to vindicate their names.
The lawyers contended that the prosecution’s case is a very porous one, has no merit and is clouded with politics.
According to Thompson, the police are relying on a case based on a weak statement taken from “someone who was severely beaten.” He argued too that the police have so far found no evidence incriminating the men. He said too that no identification parade was held.
After the men were placed on bail, the case was transferred to the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court for March 1.
