AK-47 rampage at Black Bush Polder ...
Five alleged gunmen charged
Kaieteur News
March 13, 2007
Five men, who were allegedly involved in last week's attack by gunmen on several homes at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, yesterday made their first court appearance, and were remanded.
The suspects, Roy Fraser, Leary Fraser, Radesh Singh, Carlton Chaitram and Chandradat Nirmal, all of Black Bush Polder, appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Acting Chief Magistrate Cecil Sullivan. They are charged with discharging a loaded firearm and two counts of robbery under arms.
The Police are alleging that, last week Monday, at Lesbeholden, South Black Bush Polder, the five men discharged a loaded firearm at Dhanraj Bisraj with intent to maim, disfigure, or cause grievous bodily harm.
It was also alleged that, while being armed with guns, they robbed Khemraj Seeram of two gold rings worth $20,000, and $53,000 cash, all worth $73,000.
In addition, the men are accused of robbing Lilawatie Kalyan of $110,000 cash, three gold chains and six pairs of gold earrings.
They were represented by attorney-at-law Pamela De Santos.
In a bail application, De Santos told the court that the three offences are all bailable.
She added that none of the men were found with guns or ammunition.
De Santos also said that the five men are licensed firearm holders and their weapons are inconsistent with the ones used to commit the robberies.
According to her, the men own shotguns, while the guns used during the robberies were AK-47s.
She said that none of the victims identified any of the five accused as being involved.
De Santos said that a test for gun powder proved negative.
Prosecutor Maxine Graham asked that bail for the five accused be refused since, from her facts, it is clear that firearms were used, and gun-related crimes are becoming prevalent in society.
She rebutted De Santos and said that, according to her facts, an identification parade was held and the five men were all positively identified.
Graham added that if the men were granted bail, that there might be witness tampering.
She said that the men were all rice cutters and were in the middle of crop cultivation.
She added that they were in custody since last week.
Kaieteur News understands that the suspects were questioned in Georgetown.
Police had said that residents have identified the five men as being among the gunmen who carried out the attack.
According to reports, detectives are also attempting to ascertain whether the men were involved in other high-profile robberies in other parts of the country.
Police also said that ten of the thirteen AK-47 shells found at Black Bush Polder matched four similar shells that were found at the scene of a similar attack on October 25, 2006 at Mon Desir, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara.
One of the gunmen drowned while fleeing the scene.
An AK-47 assault rifle, later identified as one of the weapons that were stolen from the army, was still strapped to the still-unidentified bandit's body when he was found.
Kowsilla Mahadeo, a 56-year-old resident whom, the gunmen shot in the abdomen and thigh, died several days later.
During the robbery on March 5 last, a gang of heavily armed bandits raided several homes at Lesbeholden, Black Bush Polder, and shot Dhanraj Bisraj, 17, in his buttocks.