Bogus cops slapped with 8 charges

[www.inewsguyana.com] – Two men who had posed as Police Officers and operated a roadblock to rob unsuspecting persons were on Monday, March 30 jointly slapped with 8 charges when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

The two men, 25 – year – old vendor, Orin Arthur of Block X Diamond, East Bank Demerara and 26 – year – old construction worker, Rayon Paddy of Lot 278 South Ruimveldt Park, Georgetown, both pleaded not guilty to eight charges before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Paddy was charged with nine offences, which includes escaping lawful custody, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The first of the joint charges alleged that on March 27 at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, they had in their possession 8 grams of marijuana while another charge alleged that they had one gram of cocaine in their possession.

The third offence stated that on March 18 at Mahaicony, being in company of others armed with a gun, they robbed Ishmael Subhan of a wallet, one Alcatel cellular phone and cash $15000, a total value of $26,500. In addition to that they also robbed him of $900,000 cash, property of Shameer Mohamed.

It was also alleged that on March 18 at Mahaicony, being in company of others, armed with a gun, they robbed Ravindra Motiram of a wallet value $1,500 and $10,000.

The fifth charge read that on the same day at Mahaicony, being in company of others and armed with a gun, they robbed Anand Rahaman of a Samsung cellular phone and a wallet, a summary value of $30,000.

The duo was also charged with having 17 .233 live rounds of ammunition, without being the holder of a valid firearm license and another charge of having 12 live .32 rounds.

The last charge alleged that the men had in their possession a .32 pistol while not being the holders of a firearm license.

The court heard that on the day in question around 21:00 hrs whilst the victims were on their way to Georgetown, when they were stopped by men dressed in police uniform at Grove.

Police Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru detailed the incident reporting that after extensive investigations were carried out, the defendants were arrested and placed on identification parades by the victims in the Diamond raid.

Attorney-at-law, Paul Fung-a-Fat represented Arthur; he told the court that his client is not a flight risk and if granted bail he will return for his trial.

Both men were remanded to prison. For the matters allegedly committed at Mahaicony, the matters were transferred to the Mahaicony Magistrate’s Court for April 8.

With respect to the East Bank matters, the duo will appear at Providence Magistrate’s Court for April 7. Paddy will reappear at the Georgetown Magistrates Courton April 17 as his case of escaping lawful custody continues.