Three men arraigned on a multi-million-dollar robbery charge were yesterday each placed on a $100,000 bail after the investigating rank in the matter substantiated their claim to the court that they were not identified by the virtual complainant as the men who robbed him.
Adrian Bishop, Devon Forde and Junior Nurse appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman and were read the charge which alleges that on August 31 at Georgetown with other persons, they robbed Ramanand Jagdeo of three gold rings, one gold chain, one cell phone, one vacuum cleaner with compressor, $315,000 and a quantity of goods all together valuing $1,754,000 and one Toyota Spacio motor car number PPP 4395 valued $3.7 million belonging to Linda Bonita.
The defendants were not required to plead to the indictable charge of robbery with aggravation when it was read to them.
The men who were unrepresented by counsel said that after they were placed on an identification parade, Jagdeo had told the police that they were not the men who had robbed him.
When given a chance to speak; Bishop, 28, of 67 Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty, said that after they were all placed on an identification (ID) parade, Jagdeo related to one “Inspector Caesar” and other Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers, that they were not the men who had robbed him.
Bishop told the court that at this point, Inspector Caesar became incensed and began cursing and shouting at the man, asking him whether he was a “fool”.
According to Bishop, he then tried to explain to the Inspector that he was innocent but just then the lawman directed a series of expletives at him telling him that he would ensure he was locked away in jail.
The mechanic opined that it was unfair that he was being incarcerated for an offence which the complainant himself said he did not commit.
He also showed the court a bleeding wound in the region of his shin on the right foot which he alleged was inflicted by Inspector Caesar.
Bishop begged the court to ask investigating rank Dellon Elexey who was present at the ID parade and also at yesterday’s hearing whether the complainant did not in fact say that the defendants were not the men who had robbed him.
When called upon by the magistrate, Elexey said that was indeed the case, but added that confession statements were given by Forde and Nurse and that the police were “in possession of certain video footage images.”
However Forde and Nurse said they had given no such statements.
Forde, a 27-year-old goldsmith of 54 Duncan Street, Campbellville and father of one who wore a bandage to the right hand alleged that he had sustained the injury at the hands of Inspector Caesar who then denied him access to medical attention to obtain a medical certificate.
Nurse; a labourer of Hill Street, Albouystown also alleged that he was assaulted by the Inspector who slapped him about his face.
The men said that they were denied visits by their relatives who had taken food for them at the station.
After perusing the file and the complainant’s statements for some time, Prosecutor Michael Grant also reported to the court that the defendants were indeed not identified by the complainant
Jagdeo was not present at yesterday’s hearing.
Magistrate Latchman duly granted the men their pretrial liberty in the sum of $100,000 bail each.
They will next appear in Court One on September 15 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.