A 57-year-old miner was remanded to prison yesterday after he was charged with a multi-million dollar armed robbery which took place almost six years ago.
The charge against Kemerick Blades alleges that on October 16th, 2013, at Lime Tree Backdam, North West District, while in the company of another and being armed with a gun, he robbed Asif Mohammed of a radio set, valued $400,000, a 12-gauge shotgun, valued $145,000, goods valued $1.7 million and three ounces of raw gold, valued $954,000.
Blades pleaded not guilty to the charge, after it was read by acting Chief Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in Georgetown.
Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail, citing the serious nature of the offence, the punishment the offence attracts and Blades being a flight risk based on him not being seen for six years following the robbery. Mansfield then stated that Mohammed positively identified Blades during a confrontation between the two men.
However, Blades told the magistrate that the allegation was a “fabrication” due to the fact that he is well-known to the police in the North West area. He then stated that it is quite surprising that it took six years for him to be arrested. “All them police know me so how it tek six years to find me? I can’t hide from the police, they all know my name and face,” the father-of-seven added.
The magistrate then ruled in favour of the prosecution and remanded Blades to prison and adjourned the matter until June 4th.
