A taxi driver, who is accused of being one of three men who robbed a Vryheid’s Lust car dealer of over $2 million in cash and other valuables, was yesterday charged and remanded to prison.
The charge against Leroy Lloyd, 25, of Lot 842 Diamond Housing Scheme, is that on December 23 at Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara, being armed with a gun, he robbed Hemchand Narine of one .32 revolver and six rounds of .32 ammunition, amounting to a total value of $201,000.
It is also alleged on the same day, Lloyd robbed Diane Ramroop of $2,027,000 belonging to Narine and one Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued $136,000 belonging to Ramroop.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charges read to him by Chief Magistrates Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.
The prosecution stated that on the day in question, about 13:30 hrs, both victims left their Vryheid’s Lust home for a Republic Bank outlet in order to withdraw $2,027,000 and as they returned home three persons entered their yard and relieved them of the articles mentioned in the charges.
The court heard that Hemchand chased behind the men but only Lloyd was later apprehended. According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, Lloyd had provided the police with useful information regarding the robbery.
The court was further told by Grant, that it was Lloyd who assisted in renting the car which was used in the robbery and he had also provided police with the names of other individuals.
The prosecutor said that based on these revelations coupled with information received and further investigations, Lloyd was charged.
Grant went on to further explain that the prosecution was not in possession of statements in its file and he could not definitively say if an ID parade was conducted. He also said that he would not make further comments regarding the matter until advice is sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Grant objected to bail based on the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence and the fact that Lloyd allegedly had a firearm during the commission of the robbery and raised concern also that one was stolen. Grant added also that if bail is granted it is likely that the accused would not return for his trial.
Lloyd’s attorney Dexter Todd told the court that the case is riddled with falsehoods from beginning to the end. “There is not one iota of evidence… and they very well know that there isn’t any hope to find any,” Todd said.
He continued that his client has no knowledge of any impending crime and had only innocently directed an individual to places where vehicles are available for rental. According to Todd, this is the information which his client provided to police.
The lawyer contended that after failing to locate the individual who rented the car used in the alleged robbery, the police charged his client instead. Todd opposed the prosecution’s objection to bail arguing that no ID parade was held nor is there any forensic analysis.
In his bail application, counsel begged the court for conditions to be attached if it were minded to grant bail.
After listening to the submissions, the magistrate remanded Lloyd to prison and he is expected to make his next court appearance on December 31 at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court.
