The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has appealed the decision to dismiss the charges against the suspects in the 2008 $17.2M GuySuCo payroll heist at Stanleytown on the West Demerara.
A source at the DPP Chambers noted that an appeal has to be filed within 14 days after the case has ended and indicated that one was filed. On March 31, Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Wales Magistrate’s Court dismissed the charges against the seven defendants in the matter after she said that the charges could not be proven by the prosecution.
Charged were: Robert Darr, 35, of 3 Public Road Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara; Paul Stephenson, 24, also of 3 Public Road Mc Doom; Lloyd Johnson, 32, 11 Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara; Dennis ‘Anaconda’ Williams; Aldrhen Adonis, 29, of 941 Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, a former member of the GDF Coast Guard; Jermaine Todd, 21, 131 Baltimore Street, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara and John Ross.
The men had first appeared in court on November 10, 2008. It was alleged that on November 6, 2008 at Stanleytown, armed with guns, they robbed Budnarine Sawh of $17.2 million cash, the property of GuySuCo.
Further, it was alleged that they also robbed D. Sundat, Phillip Rampersaud, Carlyle Wade, Ulric Taylor and Phillip Haynes of two cellular phones, a quantity of cash, two 12-gauge shotguns and a quantity of cartridges, a .38 revolver – BBY8456 — and a motor van worth $4.2 million, belonging to the Guyana Employment Bureau (GEB) Security Service.
Four GEB security guards were escorting the GuySuCo payroll when it was hijacked by members of an armed gang on the Stanleytown Public Road. Two suspected gang members, Leon Dundas, of Punt Trench Dam, Albouystown and Eric Williams, of Fyrish, Corentyne, were killed during a shoot-out with the lawmen, while the remaining members were held by police after an extensive land and river operation.
They were believed to be part of a gang responsible for a rash of high-profile armed robberies, and some of them were also charged for a number of other robberies.
Darr, Adonis, Stephenson and Johnson faced several other charges related to a series of the robberies. They faced six charges of robbery under arms and two charges of discharging a firearm with intent. The charges stemmed from alleged crimes committed at Kuru-Kuru, Linden-Soesdyke Highway.
Police alleged that on October 24, 2008 at Kuru-Kuru, the four men, being armed with guns, robbed Lionel Calendar of items worth $955,000; Chim-a-pow Robert Vincent of clothing, a Suriname Passport #R-1041034 and a quantity of US dollars together worth $350,000; Daniram Singh, of gold jewellery worth $310,000; and W. Roberto of one Suriname Passport #R-1113247 and a quantity of US dollars together worth $160,000.
It was also alleged that at the same location the men discharged rounds at Barbara Pereira and Daniram Singh, with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause grievous bodily harm.
Heavily armed gunmen had attacked a Lethem-bound minibus, shooting the driver and robbing the passengers of valuables. The bandits had numbered around eight and were in two cars.
Following the robbery, they escaped. The matter was sent to the Providence Magistrate’s Court.
The four men also faced two charges of robbery under arms which allegedly occurred at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.
It is alleged that on October 14, 2008 at the stated location the men robbed Davendra Chetram, a businessman, of $6 million and Omwattie Chetram of a quantity of gold and diamond jewellery, at gunpoint. This matter is ongoing.
Further, Johnson faced seven additional charges of robbery under arms and one charge of break and enter and larceny; crimes he allegedly committed at Fort Island, Essequibo River. That matter is ongoing.
