Three Linden men were remanded to prison yesterday over breaking and entering, as well as armed robbery charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
It was alleged that between November 17 -18, at Republic Avenue, MacKenzie, Linden, Ryan Samuels, Ray Wilson and Leonard Moore, broke and entered the Flourishing Church, carrying away an amplifier, valued at $190,000, an equalizer, valued $55,000, four 15-inch speakers, valued $100,000 , a cross-over valued $45,000 and a mixer valued $120,000. The total value was said to be $520,000. All three men denied the charge.
It was the police’s case that sometime between November 17 and 18, a car driven by Samuels was stopped at a police road block around 3 am or 4 am and a search was conducted. Several items were found in the car.
The trio in the car was arrested and charged and an investigation revealed that the items had been stolen from the Flourishing Church. Prosecutor Vernette Pindar told the court that under caution, Wilson admitted to the offence.
Samuels, 33, of 11 South Amelia’s Ward, told the court, that he was working as a taxi driver on November 18, when Wilson stopped and hired his taxi to transport him with what Samuels described as, “a salt bag of items” that was placed in the trunk of his car.
Wilson, 25, of 31 Amelia’s Ward Linden told the court that he was responsible for the items. Wilson explained that he purchased the items from a man, but was unaware that the items were stolen. He also told the court that he had tried explaining this to the police, but they ignored him and “kept coming up with their own story.” Wilson continued, “I told them the guy’s name, who I bought the stuff from.”
Moore, 32, of 16 Amelia’s Ward told the court that on November 18, he was on his way home, when he stopped the car Samuels was driving. Hence, he knows nothing about the robbery.
The three men were also charged with robbing Audrey London with a gun. It was the police’s case that on March 3 at 9.30 am, London was walking along the road at West Watooka, when Wilson, held her up at gun-point, and took away a cellphone, gold jewellery and cash; the two others were said to have been the look-outs.
They allegedly robbed the woman of a BlackBerry cell phone valued $140,000, a gold chain, valued $300,000, two rings, valued $60,000 and $70,000.
Moore also voiced his surprise, of the fact that he was now brought before the court for something he was accused of since March.
Moore, a clothes vendor, said he knew nothing of the robbery or the theft from the church. Moreover, Moore accused the police of torturing him at the station in Linden with hopes of a confession. “…they tied my feet to a chair, put a knife to my throat and put a towel in my mouth,” he told the court. He also said that they covered his face with a plastic bag, twice and cuffed him in his abdomen.
The men were denied bail, which was opposed owing to the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and that they might be flight risks. The matter will be heard at the Christianburg Magistrate’s Court on December 16.
