Five men were yesterday charged over the October 9th armed robbery at Kaieteur News and two others in relation to possession of a firearm and ammunition. All were remanded.
Former Kaieteur News employee, 33-year-old Ryan Wharton, of Lot R4-574 Canary Street, Tucville, Georgetown; the security guard, Joshua Junior, 35, of Lot 223 Middle Road, East La Penitence, Georgetown; taxi driver Harry Songster, 36, of Lot 36 Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank Demerara; 25-year-old Ivor Belingie, also called ‘Wildlife’ of Back Circle, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown; and Lemuel Grant, 23, a clerk, of Lot 52 Russell Street, Charlestown, Georgetown; all appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan where their robbery under arms charge was read to them.
The particulars of the offence which saw the five men being jointly charged stated that between October 9 and October 10 at Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, they robbed Kaieteur News which is owned by Glenn Lall, of $38,893,420 in cash, one Republic Bank cheque valued $9,120,590, US$9,306, one black .32 Taurus pistol with serial number FHS60749 valued $350,000 along with ammunition worth $480,000, one firearm case worth $25,000, and two handles worth $10,000, along with magazines worth $60,000. They also robbed Noel Junior of $5,000 and Wayne Little of one cellular phone worth $44,000.
The five men pleaded not guilty to the charge and were remanded to prison. They are expected to make their second court appearance on November 10.
During the bail application for his client, Wharton, attorney-at-law Eusi Anderson noted that his client is the sole breadwinner for his family and if he is to go to jail, it will leave his family in a desperate situation.
Anderson also represented Grant and while applying for bail, argued that his client had no knowledge that a robbery was going to be committed with his car, since he had lent it to his cousin (Wharton) while he (Grant) was out partying at Outside Bar at MovieTowne. Anderson told the court that there is CCTV footage which will substantiate his client’s alibi.
Bail was however still denied for both men.
Meanwhile, 40-year-old Collis Heywood, a chef, of Lot R2- 578 Canary Street, Tucville, Georgetown, was separately charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition when he also appeared before Chief Magistrate McLennan in connection with the robbery. The charge against Heywood stated that on October 10 at Georgetown, he had in his possession a .32 Taurus pistol while not being the holder of a firearm licence.
It was also stated that on the said date and at the said address, he had 210 rounds of .32 ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence.
The father of two pleaded not guilty to both charges and was remanded to prison.
In his bail application, Heywood’s attorney, Samuel Glasgow, argued that his client had no knowledge of the gun nor its ammunition, since he lives at a property that is occupied by several persons.
However Police Prosecutor and Superintendent of Police, Neville Jeffers, objected to bail by stating that during the search, France had handed over a black bag which contained the firearm and ammunition.
The two charges against 35-year-old Kevin France, a taxi driver, of Lot 708 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, stated that on October 10 at Lot 708 East Ruimveldt, he had in his possession a 9mm pistol without being the holder of a firearm licence.
He was also charged before the Chief Magistrate for allegedly having 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition in his possession for which he is also not the holder of a firearm licence.
France pleaded not guilty to his two charges and was also remanded to prison. During the court hearing, the man told the court that he was beaten by the police and had to be taken to the hospital. He was represented by attorney Keoma Griffith.
Prosecutor Jeffers told the court that as a result of the investigation into the robbery, France’s name was mentioned which led to his arrest. As such, a search was conducted at his home where he handed over the firearm and ammunition.
The possession of firearm and ammunition cases against Heywood and France were adjourned until November 9th.
The robbery which was committed on the news entity occurred around 1.15 am on Monday.
The police said that their enquiries had revealed that three persons were at the time at the news entity performing duties when three suspects pulled up in front of the Kaieteur News building in a gold coloured Spacio motorcar, entered the building and held the three employees at gunpoint. They then put them in a room where they instructed them to lie face-down on the ground.
One suspect remained in the room with the employees, the other two proceeded upstairs into the Accounts Department where they wrenched off the Yale padlock that the door was secured with. They then broke the lock to one of the desk drawers and under the desk was a safe with an undisclosed amount of cash which the suspects stole.
The police had stated that Wharton who was positively identified by KN employees was first arrested and he then confessed and admitted to the robbery.
