Five Venezuelan youths jailed for robbery

Five Venezuelan young men were sentenced on Tuesday by Magistrate Allan Wilson after they pleaded guilty to the charges of robbery brought against them. Josua Medina, Jhosmel Eurealuces, Jhon Andeszo Munoz Marcano, Ramon Bermudez and Jonathan Beuitez all appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to five counts of robbery under arms.

However Medina was additionally slapped with two charges; possession of a fire arm without being the holder of a licence and possession of ammunition without being the holder of a licence.

Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that on the day in question about 06: 20h, a report was made that a number of persons were being robbed and based on information received, the police along with members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) went to the crime scene, where they found the firearm and ammunition in the defendant’s possession.

He was taken into custody along with the gun and the ammunition, and later charged. In his defence, Medina told the court that he is a firearm licence holder in his country but not in Guyana. He stated that he had the gun for his protection since he worked at the Venezuela-Guyana border, adding that it is not possible to work at the border without protection.

Prosecutor Mansfield stated that on April 4 about 06: 00h, the victims joined a power boat driven by Lall from Arau, Wenamu River, en route to El Dorado, Venezuela. While on their journey, in the vicinity of Tamberlin Island, Wenamu River, the boat ran aground and stopped on some rocks. The five defendants who were armed with a gun, cutlasses and knives then attacked the victims who were stranded.

The charges stated that the defendants robbed Raquel Lopez of one BlackBerry cellular phone along with the charge and US$ 8 (G$ 1600) cash, a total value of Gy$ 61,000, Frank Lopez of 4.5 ounces of raw gold, a bottle of perfume, $ 180 Bolivar Currency, one gold scale and a torch along with batteries amounting to a total of Gy$ 1,774,940, Jenna Hernandez of a quantity of articles, including jewellery; a total value of Gy$ 150,000, Hector Martin of 10 pennyweight raw gold valued Gy$ 160,000 and Mohan Lall of six ounces of raw gold and one Samsung cellular phone along with the charger amounting to Gy$ 2,312,000.

The victims were tied up before the defendants escaped through the bushes. Prosecutor Mansfield also stated that at the time of the robbery, three of the defendants were dressed in uniforms of the Venezuela National Guard. One of the VCs who managed to escape reported the matter to the police, who along with GDF ranks went to the scene where they apprehended three of the defendants and some of the articles were recovered.

The following day, investigators returned to the scene where the remaining two defendants were handed over to them by ranks from the Venezuela National Guard. Further investigations were carried out after which the young men were all charged with the present offences.

When asked if they had anything to say before sentencing, the young men asked whether they will be deported to Venezuela. They were then told that they would return to Venezuela but after serving their sentences.

Medina pleaded guilty to the charges which stated that on April 4 at Wenamu River, Cuyuni, he was in possession of a 12 Gauge Winchester Shotgun and three 12 Gauge cartridges without being the holder of a license for either. The magistrate then sentenced the defendant (Medina) to pay a fine of Gy$ 5000 together with 18 months imprisonment on each charge, with the sentences running concurrently.

The five young men, between the ages of 19 and 20, were initially not required to plead to the joint robbery charges, however the prosecutor made an application for the matters to be tried summarily, and that is the Administration of the Justice Act (AJA) to be applied.

The men were allowed to plead to the charges against them and entered guilty pleas. The magistrate in his ruling informed the defendants that they were sentenced to three years imprisonment on each charge. The sentences will run concurrently.