Three men are now remanded prisoners after being accused of the gunpoint robbery at Aranka backdam, in which raw gold and cash were stolen.
Derrick Chance, 24, of Lot 37 Main Road, Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara, Sherwin Gillis, 23, of Lot 46 Brummell Street, Ann’s Grove and Kendell Lewis, of Lot 12 Main Road, Ann’s Grove, all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It was alleged at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court that on October 24, at Aranka Backdam, armed with a gun, they robbed Sydney Nidoo of raw gold and cash, which amounted to $190,000 in value.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge.
It was also alleged that at the same place they robbed Kevin Williams of raw gold valued $120,000 and a cell phone valued $40,000.
They also pleaded not guilty to this charge.
Prosecutor Bharat Mangru said that Nidoo and Williams were pounced on by the three men, who were armed with firearms and a cutlass.
Mangru added that Nidoo was injured during the attack.
He said that the attack was reported and the three accused were arrested and charged. He also said that the phone stolen from Williams was recovered on one of the accused.
Attorney Trenton Lake, who represented Chance and Gillis, asked for reasonable bail to be granted to both defendants. He said that Chance and Gillis are gainfully employed as miners in the interior and added that neither of them has any previous or pending matters with the law.
But Mangru objected to bail based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and his fear that if granted bail it was likely that the three men may not return for trial.
Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry subsequently refused bail and the three accused were remanded to prison until November 7, when they will appear at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.
