Zahir Abdul, 22, of Adelphi New Scheme, Canje, one of the four alleged bandits involved in a shoot-out with police was remanded to prison on Tuesday by Magistrate Adela Nagamoo-too at the New Amsterdam Court.
He faced six charges as did his alleged accomplices: Keshwar ‘Bread’ Harrinarine, 32, of Fyrish, Corentyne and Parmanand Joseph, 24, of Johns, Corentyne both hire car drivers and Deodat ‘Pop Corn’ Seecharran, 20, of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice, who had been remanded earlier.
Abdul is scheduled to return to the Reliance court on January 16 together with the others. The court heard that on Sunday, December 9 at Rose Hall, Canje, Abdul, in company with the others, discharged a loaded firearm at police cadet officer, Roger Pilgrim and police corporal, Randy Hamilton and Doodnauth Moses with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or cause them grievous bodily harm.
He also faced charges of being in possession of a 16-gauge shotgun and three matching cartridge casings along with one 12-gauge cartridge casing without being the holder of a licence.
Further, he was charged with attempting to commit a felony, to wit burglary which occurred on the same day at the dwelling house of GuySuCo Field Foreman Rajesh Parasram, 41, at Betsy Ground, East Canje Berbice.
Abdul sustained gunshot injuries to his left hip, Seecharran to his buttocks and Harrinarine to his buttocks. They were arrested and taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital and then to the Georgetown Public Hospital under guard. Joseph, the alleged driver of the getaway car HC 1390 was later intercepted in the area.
Magistrate Nagamootoo remanded Seecharran to prison on Monday but prison authorities had initially refused to accept him because there were no discharge papers from the hospital.
He was accepted the following day when Harrinarine and Joseph, were placed on remand when they appeared before the magistrate at the Reliance Court.
Police had said in a statement that around 1 am, the men attempted to break into the home of Parasram who was aroused by the sounds being made and raised an alarm. The three were seen exiting the vehicle driven by Joseph and running away after the police approached. They discharged a round in the direction of the house as they ran.
According to the police, the community policing group in the area was alerted and mobilized themselves in search of the men and the police were also informed.
“The police responded quickly to the report received and while approaching the area on foot, they came under fire from the bandits who were in the compound of a Mandir in the vicinity. The police returned fire, but the men managed to escape from the compound and headed in the direction of the backdam area”, police said.
Back-up ranks were summoned and the police continued their pursuit of the men who were caught up with in the Betsy Ground Cemetery.
Police said they then again opened fire on ranks. The police said they returned fire, injuring all three men in the process.
The police had recovered one shotgun, pellets and empty casings as well as boots, caps and jerseys.
