Two more police witnesses yesterday identified two of the accused in last year’s $7 million Bel Air heist as being the men apprehended by units that responded to the report of the robbery.
The policemen, Corporal Vickram Looknauth and Constable Quacy Kitt, gave their testimony as the trial of Chandraradha Rampersaud, Jermaine Mitchell, Aubrey Simon, Rayon Jones and Hardat Kumar continued before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
They are charged with two counts of armed robbery. It is alleged that on July 12, at Bel Air Gardens, being armed with a gun, they robbed Annie Ramsood—Rampersaud’s daughter—of $1.4 million and US$29,000 (equivalent to $5.8 million), totalling $7.2 million. It is also alleged that they robbed Ramsood of a BlackBerry Smartphone and a quantity of cash, valued $427,000 in total. Mitchell and Simon are also jointly charged with having in their possession a 9 mm pistol and eight rounds of 9 mm ammunition, without being the holders of firearm and ammunition licences.
Rabindranauth Seemangal, who had also been charged over the robbery and the firearm and ammunition possession, pleaded guilty on Tuesday and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.
Looknauth, who was assigned to the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) at Eve Leary, recalled that on the day of the robbery, he and other members of the unit were on mobile patrol in the East Ruimveldt area when they received information via a transmitter from the radio network that there was a robbery in progress. The team then proceeded to Bel Air and en route it received more information and proceeded to points where other ranks had detained suspects.
Attorney Glenn Hanoman, who is one of the prosecutors in the trial, asked Looknauth to identify the men and the policeman pointed out Mitchell and later Simon.
According to Looknauth, at Vlissingen Road he saw another set of ranks, who had a male lying face down and he was also placed in his vehicle. He then took control of the scene and reported the three persons held and the recovery of a firearm. He said that he immediately asked the ranks if there was any money recovered. Another officer handed him an envelope, which was opened, and he discovered three $100,000 slabs and other envelopes which had money signage and US dollar figures on them.
The police officer said that upon instructions, he handed the cash over to Constable Kitt and he received more information that two other suspects in the robbery were on Alexander Street, Kitty, and a Sergeant Lindo gave instructions to have the other two men taken to the Brickdam Police station.
Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, also prosecuting in the case, commended Looknauth for his response and the manner in which he presented himself to the court.
Meanwhile, Kitt, who was also a member of the TSU, recalled that he and others were on patrol and received information via a transmission radio and they left the East La Penitence area and headed to Campbellville, then proceeded to the Ocean Spray Hotel, where the suspects were held trying to escape.
Kitt said that on arrival at the scene, they saw other police patrols and they began a search of the area, while another member called them and informed that they had three young men in handcuffs.
When Hanoman asked Kitt to identify the three men he saw on that day, he responded that they were only two sitting in the docks—Mitchell and Simon. He said that they then escorted the three men to the police station.
The trial has been adjourned to Friday at 1 pm in Court One.
