A suspect was yesterday charged with carrying out last week’s violent robbery against Justice Nicola Pierre and her husband Mohamed Chand during a home invasion at Felicity, East Coast Demerara, and shooting at a security guard.
Premnauth Samaroo, 49, of Lot 16 Craig Street, Campbellville was charged after he was picked out during an identification parade on Saturday but he told Magistrate Zamilla Ally at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court that the police had the wrong person.
Samaroo is one of four men who were held by police shortly after the attack, which came in the midst of a recent spike in crime. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday told Stabroek News that the three other persons who were arrested were released on station bail on Sunday evening. They have been ordered to report to police at stipulated times as the investigation of the attack continues.
The court heard yesterday that on July 9, Samaroo robbed Justice Pierre of $1 million in cash and articles. It was also alleged that he robbed Chand of $2.6 million in cash and articles. In addition, he was also charged with discharging a firearm at Ron Peters with the intent to maim, disable or disfigure him.
Although both Pierre and Chand were brutalised during the attack, no charges related to the assault on the couple were read.
Samaroo was not required to plead to the charges yesterday but proclaimed his innocence.
“Madam, at the time when the robbery occurred, I was in Festival City playing Xbox,” Samaroo told Magistrate Ally.
He added that two friends showed up and collected him and transported him to Montrose, where their car broke down.
“Madam, I innocent of this thing. We been pushing a car and we hear a set of gunshots,” he said, as several of his relatives who were in the courtroom began to sob and murmur.
Prosecutor Sherlock King objected to bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that Samaroo was positively identified by Peters.
When asked if he had ever been charged before, Samaroo said he was charged with unlawful wounding and had spent one year in prison.
Magistrate Ally subsequently remanded him to prison until August 14, when another hearing is scheduled.
After he was refused bail, Samaroo’s temper began to flare. “Y’all is real cowboy people chirren. Y’all got to find the right people,” Samaroo told a police officer who was about to escort him out of the court.
As he exited the courtroom, he continued to express disgust at the police. “None a me friends in deh in dem thing. Ya here what I telling ya? These police bai,” Samaroo told some of his weeping relatives before being whisked away to prison.
The attack occurred at about 1.20 am last Thursday, after the robbers overpowered and tied up a special constable, who was on duty close to the house. The armed men, after battering the couple, escaped with a portable safe containing money and jewellery and a suitcase with articles.
However, a confrontation with an armed security guard at a nearby premises resulted in the bandits leaving behind the safe and suitcase, while they fled on foot before boarding a waiting vehicle nearby.
Based on the accounts of eyewitnesses, more than six persons would have been involved in the robbery, but owing to the unexpected shootout that ensued with a guard during their escape, the gang may have been scattered.
Blanhum said yesterday that the police are pursuing other individuals in connection with the attack.
