A third man was yesterday charged in relation to what police have said was a staged robbery involving RK security guards outside the Demerara Bank branch at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara last month.
Carl Caleb, 35, a miner of 209 Fourth Street, Silvertown, Linden, was not required to plead to robbery charges when he appeared before Magistrate Zamilla Ally-Seepaul at the Better Hope Community Centre where Sparendaam Magistrate’s court matters are currently being heard.
It is alleged that on May 23, at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, Caleb stole $4.3 million, which was the property of Courts, $3 million, which was the property of S and S Supermarket and $148,840, which was the property of Church’s Chicken. He was also charged with stealing a .32 revolver and ten .32 rounds of ammunition that were the property of RK’s Security Services.
Previously, two RK’s guards Cleveland Pyle and Damion Pearce, were charged and remanded to prison in relation to the robbery. Pyle’s wife Eulesie Stephens was also charged in relation to the matter and remanded.
Representing Caleb, attorney Adrian Thompson told the court that his client does not know the three defendants who were previously charged for the offences. He argued that Caleb is not even an employee of RK Security Services. He also related to the court that though his client has no pending matters in court, he was convicted of a wounding charge in 2005.
Police prosecutor David Goodridge objected to bail based on the circumstances under which the monies and the gun along with the ammunition were taken. According to Goodridge, Caleb confessed to the police about his involvement in the crime and also aided them in finding the homes of two other suspects who are currently on the run.
In the alleged confession, the prosecutor said, Caleb named Pearce as the one who planned the robbery. In addition, Caleb was paid $300,000 by Pearce to be a part of the plot. Goodridge said Caleb told them that his part was to go along with two others to Le Ressouvenir and relieve Pearce and the other security guard of the cash and their weapons. The prosecutor further argued that given all the facts, Caleb should not be granted bail as he is fearful that he would flee from the police just like the other two suspects who are still to be apprehended by the police.
Caleb was subsequently remanded to prison by the Magistrate. His matter was adjourned until July 5 for report.
It was initially claimed that Pearce was shot when he and Pyle were ambushed by a lone gunman while making a deposit at Demerara Bank’s Le Ressouvenir branch. However, police subsequently said that they staged the robbery.
