Bel Air heist suspects make another court appearance

Sep 28, 2011 News

Persons charged for the brazen multi-million-dollar heist at the Bel Air Park home of businessman Malcolm Panday on July 12, last, made another appearance before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday.
The seven accused, Panday’s mother –in –law Chandrada Rampersaud; Hardatt Kumar, 23, of Owen Street, Kitty; ex-policeman Shawn Hinds, 40, of 552 East Ruimveldt Housing; Jermaine Mitchell, 20, of YY 15 North East La Penitence; Rabindra Seemangal, 20, of 100 Sheriff Street; Aubrey Simon, 21, of 14-14 Princes Street and Rayon Jones of Lot 2 Hardina Street, Wortmanville, all came before the magistrate to continue the matter.
On the previous occasion, the prosecution had asked the court that the matter be adjourned for a later date since it wished to seek legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP) – information which had not reached the prosecution up to the date of the hearing. This caused the postponement of the matter once again since the file sent to the DPP had not been returned.
The prosecution returned yesterday informing the court that it had received the much-needed advice to proceed in the matter. In light of this advice given by the DPP, the Prosecution told the court that it was given the go-ahead to try the case summarily.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey informed the court that the matter could be dealt with since he was now in a position to present the case. He also made requests that a date be set for statements in the matter to be filed and served since it could now be tried at the Magistrates’ Court. The charges were subsequently read to the seven accused to which they all pleaded not guilty.
Of the seven accused three – Shawn Hinds, Rayon Jones and Aubrey Simon – had been granted bail by the High Court prior to yesterday’s hearing, after their lawyers had made the relevant application to the higher authority.
The remaining four had been incarcerated since July 14 and had not been granted bail. Since the matter would now be tried at the Magistrates’ Court they were able to obtain bail after the prosecution had no objections to the application – only requesting that the sum be a substantial amount, justifying their request on the magnitude of the offence.
Hardatt Kumar, Jermaine Mitchell, Rabindra Seemangal and Aubrey Simon were granted bail in the sum of $1M for each offence. Two of the four, Mitchell and Seemangal, faced three charges, one more than the others granted bail, for the offence of firearm possession. The two were not granted bail for the indictable offence and thus were remanded to jail.
At a previous hearing, the court was told by the prosecution that all seven persons had planned the robbery after a cousin was told by Panday’s mother-in-law about money being left in the house. She was once employed at the Panday’s home as a housekeeper before being fired. The court was told that the suspects went to the home armed with guns and proceeded to rob the occupants of the house.
The majority of the accused persons, after reports by the robbed man had been made to the police, were apprehended in the compound of the Ocean Spray Hotel, along with one of the vehicles registered to Simon, which was towed away by the police.
The prosecution before closing its argument also presented to the court a letter from the doctor of Malcolm Panday. The plaintiff was not present in the court because he had been out of the jurisdiction attending to health matters. It was indicated that he would be present at the next hearing after being given time to attend to his health issues.
The case will continue on October 20.

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Bel Air heist suspects make another court appearance

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