Clyde Forte was remanded to prison yesterday after he was arraigned on charges of firing a loaded weapon and carrying out a $1.4 million armed robbery.
Forte, a welder, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the five charges read to him.
It was alleged that in attacks in October and December of last year, Forte discharged a loaded firearm at four persons, with the intent to disable, disfigure or cause grievous bodily harm to them.
It was also alleged that on December 20, 2012, at Georgetown, while armed with a gun, he robbed Sherwin Duncan of a diamond ring valued at $800,000, a gold chain valued at $350,000 along with other articles, all totalling $1,470,000.
Police Prosecutor Burgett Grant told the court that on the night of December 20, 2012, Duncan was sitting on a bench when the accused, in the company of two others, went up to him and pointed a handgun him and relieved him of the articles mentioned in the charge. She said that the matter was reported and the accused was arrested.
Forte, who gave his address as 61 Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, accused the police of normally levelling charges against him. A while ago, he said, he was brought before the court on several charges but was eventually found not guilty. He added that the police would go to his family members’ homes with “some long, long guns” and harass them.
Grant objected to bail, citing the nature of the offences, the punishment they attract and the value of the items mentioned in the armed robbery charge.
Grant also said that the accused failed to cooperate with police investigations. She noted that Forte gave the police an address at Cemetery Road and that they are unsure if he resides there since he gave the court a different address.
The magistrate subsequently remanded Forte to prison and adjourned the cases until February 15.
