Latest update February 7th, 2025 4:47 AM
Cops refused bail
– accomplices granted $50,000 bail each
Jermaine James (R) and Colin James were jointly charged with supplying false information
Four police ranks, along with a civilian, who were ensnared in a scandal involving the disappearance of $5.2 M, yesterday appeared before Magistrate Priya Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Cadet Officer Kevon Denny and Police Constables Gordon James and Leyland Fraser were not required to plead to an indictable charge of simple larceny.
It is alleged that on August 20, the three officers while on duty stole $4.8M from Shawn Ajeda, which was the property of Azeem Baksh.
Jermaine James, a police constable and his brother Colin James, a civilian, were jointly charged with supplying false information to the police in connection with the stolen money.
It was alleged that the two brothers on August 24, at the Criminal Investigations Department, Eve Leary, gave false information to Police Inspector Trevor Reid who was at the time conducting investigations into the alleged robbery. The two pleaded not guilty to the charge.
All the defendants were represented by attorney at law James Bond. According to the lawyer, the entire scenario has many actors, and his clients are innocent of what the police are alleging.
Bond explained that the ranks stopped the persons who were transferring the money from Parika to Georgetown. He said that a black bag which contained the money was taken away and lodged at the Leonora Police Station. The lawyer argued that his clients never even knew the amount of money which was in the bag, further noting that no one knows the exact amount of money which the bag contained.
The lawyer further told the court that bail should be admitted in a reasonable sum since none of the men pose a flight risk.
However Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith objected to bail for Kevon Denny, Leyland Fraser and Gordon James. The prosecutor explained to the court that Denny, who is a Cadet Officer, was in charge of (Gordon) James and Fraser. She said that they were on patrol duty when they received certain information to set up a road block.
The officers were told to look out for the alleged perpetrators in a $17M robbery.
The prosecutor further told the court that the officers caught two persons with a black bag containing $5.2M. However, the officers only lodged $1.5M, claiming that was the amount which was found.
The prosecutor went on to explain that Jermaine and Colin James are siblings of Gordon James.
She said that during the investigation regarding the missing money, the two were questioned by Inspector Trevor Reid, when they claimed that Colin James drove motor car PLL 951, which is owned by Gordon James.
Griffith noted that vehicle was suspected to have been used to move the stolen cash. She said that Colin and Jermaine James later admitted that they lied to the investigators, and that Gordon James was the one who drove the vehicle to the Leonora Police Station with the money.
Kevon Denny, Gordon James and Leyland Fraser were refused bail, while Jermaine and Colin James were granted bail of $50,000 each for giving false information.
The men are expected to make another court appearance September 2 and August 31 respectively.
The missing money represents a part of the total cash recovered following last Thursday’s $17M river heist, involving three ranks from the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, which led to the death of 23-year old Bartica resident, Dweive Kant Ramdass.
The money was allegedly stolen at a roadblock near the Demerara Harbour Bridge where the policemen had intercepted a car traveling from Parika to the city.
On Monday last, three coast guard ranks were charged with the Ramdass’s murder.
The ranks Sherwin Harte, 26, Delon Gordon, 21, and Deon Greenidge allegedly committed the act between August 20 and 22.
Additionally, Shawn Ajeda, the brother of Harte, 22, Viola Adolphus, 32, and Yvonne Beckles, 49, were separately charged for being accessories to murder.
In relation to accessory to the murder, Ajeda, Adolphus and Beckles are accused of having knowingly received, comforted, assisted and maintained the Coast Guard ranks, the charges stated.
The individuals were all remanded to prison until September 24.
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