Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine–Beharry yesterday ordered the prosecution to launch an investigation and have medical examinations conducted following claims by lawyers representing six armed robbery accused that the men were forced to confess to the crime while being subjected to various forms of abuse.
The accused Jude Bushly, Marvin Blackman, Ivon Brown, Rakesh Shaw, Kevin October and Stanley Gautier on August 31, at No. 64 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, while allegedly being armed with a gun robbed the Virtual Complainant(VC) Clarence Carrington of two cell phones and cash to the value of $15,460.
It is also alleged that on the same day, the men being armed with a gun robbed the VC of $143,000 in Guyana currency, property of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Corentyne, Berbice. It is further alleged that the six accused robbed Deodat Sanichar of items valued $1,900.
According to the facts presented to the court by the prosecution, on August 31 the two VCs who are security guards were at the NDC office at Corentyne, Berbice, when they were confronted by the six accused who were all armed with guns. They allegedly approached the VCs and tied them up and stole the items which amounted to $143,000 and made good their escape.
The prosecution further stated that on their way to Georgetown the men were stopped at a police road block where they were searched and arrested.
It is also alleged that five of the men, except Bushly, on August 25 at Beterverwagt-ing, East Coast Demerara (ECD) while being armed with a gun robbed Bobby Blenmon of a quantity of clothes valued $28,000, property of Rudolph Benjamin.
On the same day at BV they allegedly robbed Blenmon of one generator, 2 computers, a television and other items valued a total of $450,000, property of Mark Deham.
The men also allegedly robbed Blenmon of one haversack valued $2,000, property of the said Blenmon.
It is further alleged that on the same day at BV being armed with a gun, the men robbed Blenmon of $94,270, property of Sheldon Mc Pherson.
The allegation against Blackman is that between April 5-6 at Beterverwagting, ECD, he broke and entered the BV post office and stole in excess of $5M, property of the Guyana Post Office Corporation.
The allegation against the unrepresented October is that between April 15-16 at Lusignan, E.C.D., he broke and entered the bond of Bashain Mohammed and stole a Toyota 212 motorcar valued $2M, property of Susan Weck.
Attorneys George Thomas and Randolph Kirton who represented the men told the court that their clients were forced to perform sexual acts. The attorneys also asked the court to order that a medical examination be performed on the men since they were also beaten by the police.
All of the accused were remanded to prison and the matter will be called again at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court on September 8.
The family members who yesterday afternoon visited Stabroek News expressed concerns, stating that they are very afraid for the safety of Brown and Blackman.
They also said that they had reported the incidents to various authorities but to no avail. (Roxanne Clarke)
