One of the suspects in the Corentyne money changer robbery was yesterday charged and remanded to prison when he appeared before the Chief Magistrate.
The courtroom of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan heard that on December 12, at Number 79 Village Corentyne Berbice, Clive Van Lewin, 18, of Sand Hills Berbice River, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Davendra Churaman of a quantity of local and foreign currency totaling $22,500,000. Van Lewin was not represented by an attorney was not required to plead to the charge.
Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that more persons were to be charged with the offence. Jones strongly objected to bail based on the grounds that a weapon was used and the serious nature of the charge. He also stated that the accused was on an identification parade held by the police and was positively identified by the virtual complainant.
Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded the teen to prison. The case was adjourned until December 29, when it will be called at the Spring-lands Magistrate’s Court.
The businessman, Churaman called “Katac”, 48, of Lot 93 Albert Street, Number 79 Village, Corentyne, Berbice had told Stabroek News that the robbery occurred sometime around 2 am.
He said that nine of the gunmen surrounded his house while five entered after breaking a window with a sledgehammer. At the time of the robbery, Churaman was the only person at home. The bandits, he said, fired three gunshots while they were in the house and held him at gunpoint as they demanded cash and jewellery.
