One of the men suspected of robbing an Alexander Village jewellery business and its employees of in excess of $30M worth of jewels, cash and other items, was charged yesterday.
Oniel Calendar, 25, was yesterday remanded to prison after being arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One on five counts of armed robbery.
It is alleged that on October 9, at Alexander Village, Georgetown, Calendar of 48 Lamaha Street, Newtown, Kitty, being armed with a gun, robbed Theresa Alli of $26.2M worth of gold jewellery, a Taurus pistol valued at $185,000 and $6.5M, all property of Imtiaz Alli.
In addition, it is alleged that he robbed Latif Persaud and Ramdat Paul each of a cell phone, valued at $3,000 and $56,000, respectively. Additionally, he is accused of robbing Rickey Ronald H-o-Sjoe of a cell phone and a quantity of gold jewellery, together valuing $63,000. It is further alleged that he robbed Puran Ramotar of $56,000 worth of gold jewellery also.
Calendar was not required to plead to the indictable charges when they were read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
A tearful Calendar, who was unrepresented by counsel, proclaimed his innocence, while stating that he knew absolutely nothing about the charges levelled against him.
“Me in know nothing ’bout these charges wah de police put pon me meh worship,” the man cried repeatedly.
The court heard from Prosecutor Michael Grant that the Allis own a jewellery store and pawnshop in Alexander Village and that the other complainants are their employees. He said that on the day in question, at about 11:20pm, the accused and two other persons entered the store armed, under the pretext of being customers enquiring about jewellery.
According to Grant, Calendar and his conspirators held the complainants at gun-point and relieved each of the items mentioned in the charges, after which they made good their escape.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police and an investigation was conducted.
The court heard that Imtiaz Alli, who was also present at the scene of the crime and the other complainants later positively identified Calendar at an identification parade, which led to his arrest.
When asked his occupation, Calendar told the court that he works with his father at the family’s “King-Fish, Fish Shop.”
The magistrate subsequently informed him that he would be remanded to prison until November 3, when the matters will be called again.
