5 remanded over multiple charges

– gang nabbed with unlicensed gun, wig, crowbar

A group of five alleged bandits, one of whom is an ex-police officer, were on Monday remanded to prison when they appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court to each answer to three separate charges.

Trevon McKenzie, a 29-year-old ex-Police Officer of Glasgow Housing Scheme; Michael Embrac, 33, of Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, Canje; Mickey Henry, 27, of Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; Jomo Archer, 26, of Pilot Street, New Amsterdam; and Sean Browne, 22, of Dazzle Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara were jointly charged and were not allowed to plead to the three indictable charges when they were read to them.

The court heard that the men were charged with the possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of live ammunition and having in their possession a crowbar, screw driver and wig without a valid reason.

On May 8, 2017, around 01:30h, while patrolling an area along the East Bank of Berbice Public Road, Police noticed a white motor car being driven slowly on the Glasgow Public Road. Acting on instinct, the ranks stopped and searched the vehicle, which led to the discovery of a firearm, crowbar, screw driver, wig, and ammunition.

Attorney-at-Law Charandas Persaud, representing the five accused, in a petition for bail, argued that the car was a rental car and the gun might have been in the car before the accused collected it. He said the owner should have been charged.

The Attorney noted that the Police were alleging that the five men were carrying one gun and the Police had failed to establish who was in possession of the gun.

Magistrate Alex Moore responded that the car might have been the container in which the gun was.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Leon Robertson asked the court not to grant the accused bail owing to the nature and gravity of the offence and the fact all five were known to the Police for being involved in criminal activity.

McKenzie, he told the court, is a former police officer who was indicted, along with others, for accepting a G$6 million bribe. Embrac is currently on bail for robbery under arms charges.

Henry is also on bail for a similar charge, while Archer is currently before the courts on a break and enter and larceny matter along with a robbery under arms charge. Browne is also before the courts on a break and enter and larceny charge.

However, Charandas noted that they have all been attending court. He argued that there has been no ballistic test to prove that the instrument found was indeed a firearm.

The lawyer added that the Police also had no evidence that the men were sizing up a house or had stopped in front of a house when they were apprehended.

The Magistrate remanded the five and ordered that they return to court on June 2, by which time the Police should have received results from the ballistics analysis. An order was made for the Police to scrutinise the car and release it to the owner.