Dellon Morgan, Mark Bond, Kasey Helligar and Roberto Sankar were on Tuesday remanded to prison for armed robbery by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
The first charge read that the four men, on January 30, 2017 at Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara, while armed with a dangerous weapon, robbed Virtual Complainant (VC) Dexter Lowe of a 1.3 Taurus pistol valued at G$179,000, along with G$7000 cash.
In addition, the men, armed with a firearm, robbed Junior Cheong of G$1, 000,200, property of the said VC.
The defendants were not required to plead to the indictable charges.
Morgan, Bond and Helligar were represented by Attorney Adrian Thompson. The court heard that Morgan was a 21-year-old construction worker residing in Kitty, Georgetown and the father of a one-year-old.
Bond, on the other hand, is a 46-year-old father of three and also a resident of Kitty, while Helligar is a carpenter by trade with two small children.
Thompson related that his clients were picked up 10 days ago in Kitty and were kept at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary; and the Sparendaam and Diamond stations during the said time, postulating that Bond and Helligar were never picked out during an ID parade, although Morgan was. He continued that it was not understandable why 10 days later, the investigation was still incomplete.
Meanwhile, Sankar’s defence counsel explained that her client was the Manager of a restaurant at Pigeon Island and did not at any point in time provide an oral or written confession to Police ranks, as stated in various news articles.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail based on the gravity of the offence, the fact that a weapon was used in the commission of the crime, and the penalty attached to the felony.
In addition, he posited that Sankar was the mastermind of the crime and had admitted to his involvement. Magistrate McLennan denied bail in the absence of special circumstances and remanded the men to prison. The matter was adjourned to March 21, 2017.
Bond and Sankar were escorted out of the courtroom, while Helligar and Morgan remained to answer to additional charges.
It was alleged that Junior Stuart, 31, of Kitty; Morgan; Helligar and Richard Seenarine, 29, also of Kitty, on March 4, 2017 robbed Aron Akbar of G$80,000 cash. The men on the same day allegedly robbed Esau Akbar of G$7000 and one cellular phone valued at G$15,000.
Bail was objected to by the prosecution based on the gravity and seriousness of the offence, and the fact that Stuart has pending matters of similar nature before the courts.
The Chief Magistrate denied bail and the men were placed on remand. The matter continues on March 21 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
