Latest update November 8th, 2024 1:00 AM
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Post Office robbery accused further remanded
Post office robbery accused Simeon Williams, of Lot 36 Savage Street, West La Penitence,
Simeon Williams and Oliver Franklin
Stravo Evans of 169 Middle Road La Penitence and Oliver Franklin of 102 Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, were further remanded yesterday.
The men made another appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates Courts, before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
They pleaded not guilty to several charges that stemmed from the recent multimillion dollar robbery outside of the Bourda Post Office.
They will make their next court appearance before Magistrate Judy Latchman on May 29.
Particulars of the first charge stated that on April 1, while being armed with a gun, they robbed police rank Andre July of one G3 rifle and 20 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, property of the Guyana Police Force.
The second charge alleged that on the same day, at Regent Street, the men robbed Andre July of $42,522,000, property of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC).
It was further alleged that on the same day at Regent Street, they robbed July of one cell phone valued $10,000.
The duo was also accused of robbing Darwin Hinds of one Pit Bull minibus valued $3.5M, while they were in the company of others and armed with a gun. The minibus is the property of the GPOC.
They were also charged with wrongfully restraining and abducting Andre July and Darwin Hinds on April 1, at Regent Street.
The trio appeared in court on April 17.
Evans’ lawyer, Peter Hugh, asked that his client be released on bail because he is not a flight risk. He added that when Evans heard about the allegations leveled against him, he turned himself into the police.
Attorney-at-Law Paul Fung-a-Fat, who is representing Williams and Franklin, argued that during the identification parade, a witness pointed out his clients, while another witness pointed out another man. But according to Fung-a-Fat, that person was never charged.
The attorney argued that the police have failed to establish a connection between his clients and the robberies.
According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharrat Mangru, Evans, Williams, Franklin and four other men stormed a minibus which had brought cash to the Bourda Post Office.
One of the men placed a gun to the driver’s head while another relieved the police guard of his weapon. While one of the bandits took possession of the vehicle, his accomplice forced the policeman into the back of the bus and they drove off with the cash inside.
Four others followed behind in a white car.
The bus stopped in Cemetery Road and the men in the white car pulled up alongside and cash was transferred from the bus.
The bandits then abandoned the bus with the two victims.
The prosecutor objected to bail citing the nature and penalty attached to the offences if the defendants should be found guilty. He also argued that a firearm was used to execute the robbery.
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