Hardat Kumar, one of the accused in the July 12, 2011 $7 million Bel Air heist, was yesterday arraigned on an obstruction of justice charge, based on the claim that he threatened to kill the family of a witness if he testified against him and his co-accused.
Kumar was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who noted the seriousness of the allegation when his lawyer tried to secure his release on self-bail.
It is alleged that Kumar, on October 13, made contact with the sister of Rabindranauth Seemangal and threatened to kill her and the rest of his family if he gave evidence in the trial.
Seemangal had been charged alongside Kumar, Chandraradha Rampersaud, Jermaine Mitchell, Aubrey Simon, and Rayon Jones with the armed robbery of Rampersaud’s daughter, Annie Ramsood, of over $7 million. He pleaded guilty, admitting his part in the robbery and was sentenced to eight years in jail. He also agreed to testify against his former co-accused at their trial, which is currently ongoing.
Seemangal testified at the trial last week and implicated Kumar and the man’s aunt, Rampersaud, in planning the robbery. He also identified Mitchell and Simon as being part of the robbery.
On October 17, special prosecutor Glenn Hanoman brought it to the Chief Magistrate’s attention that Kumar and his mother were taken into police custody based on an allegation that they made numerous phone calls to Seemangal’s sister and made threats.
Kumar had told the court on that occasion that he did in fact make the calls, but described them as friendly. According to him, Seemangal had called and requested that he give his wife money to maintain his children and he had placed the calls to the man’s family to arrange a time for her to collect some of it.
At yesterday’s hearing, Kumar denied the allegation and he laughed after the charge was read to him. The magistrate pointed out his reaction to his lawyer, Michael Somersal and after his intervention, Kumar apologised to the court for his action.
Somersal appealed to the magistrate for Kumar to be released on his own recognisance, on the grounds that he appeared whenever he was required to attend court and that he had already made bail on two occasions. He was released on $2 million bail and prior to that $10,000 station bail in the armed robbery case.
Hanoman, however, told the court yesterday that the offence was a serious one and there needs to be careful consideration as to what Kumar would do if he were granted pre-trial liberty.
He accused Kumar of tampering with his “star” witness by threatening to kill members of his family. As a result, Hanoman suggested that bail should be revoked bail on the armed robbery charge and that Kumar be remanded to prison.
Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry noted that while Kumar had in fact been attending court whenever he was required to do so, it has been alleged that a serious offence was committed. Consequently, she denied the man bail. The case was adjourned until today.
