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Three police ranks testify in Bel Air heist trial

Jul 26, 2012 News

 
Three police ranks testified before Chief Magistrate Priya Beharry yesterday in the armed robbery trial that stemmed from the reported attack on the Bel Air home of businessman Malcolm Panday on July 12, last year.
Of the three, two ranks testified to taking statements from two of the accused.
Prosecution witness, police Sergeant Bowman, who was led by special prosecutor Bernard De Santos, continued his evidence; and revealed the envelopes which he said he found at the Ocean Spray Hotel compound where the defendants were captured. The police presented the envelopes to the court and made connections with the names and amounts that he initially provided to the court.
Following his testimony, police officer Hubert Henry, another prosecution witness, testified to reportedly taking a statement from Jermaine Mitchell, one of the accused. The police read the contents of the statement that revealed the actions of those accused of the robbery some time before the incident took place.
The police alleged that Mitchell admitted to the part he played in the incident. He also mentioned in the statement which was read in court that the persons had congregated and had met at certain locations where they went over the details of their alleged plot. Guns were reportedly brought to facilitate the robbery.
Another officer Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Wright took the stand next. He testified to taking a statement from the fourth accused, Rayon Jones. He read the said statement which revealed that the accused reportedly played a small part in the matter. According to the police, Jones had stated what part he played and what he was supposed to do in the matter.
Attorney-at-law Randolph Kirton however objected strongly to the information the police provided. The lawyer claimed that his client only gave a statement to one police officer and the rank in the box was not that individual.
The lawyer also said that the statement that his client gave was not taken voluntarily. Kirton argued that inducement, force and trickery were used to obtain the statement from his client. To support the claim, Kirton said the police placed a bag over his client’s head and pounded it with books. He said his client was further told that if he gave a statement to the police just saying what he did he would be set free. But Kirton said the next day his client was brought to the court.
In both the statements given by the defendants, former policeman Shawn Hinds’s name was mentioned. Both statements said that the man was present when the persons congregated before the matter.
Both statements even made mention of the alleged mastermind Chandrada Rampersaud. It is believed that the woman told the defendants about money being kept at the Pandays and together they plotted the attack.
One policeman testified that Chandrada Rampersaud in an oral statement to the police said, “Me set up de work to rob Panday because me bin bruck.” The woman was invited to cross examine the rank but she said nothing, not even to deny that she made such a statement to the police.
Following the statements being presented to the court, none of the accused wished to cross examine the witnesses. The information was tendered with no objections from the defendants.
Chandrada Rampersaud, Hardat Kumar, 23, Jermaine Mitchell, 20,  Rabindra Seemangal, 20, and Rayon Jones were all implicated in the robbery matter and are facing the court for the alleged crime. Shawn Hinds was initially charged for the matter, but according to police information the charges were withdrawn since there was not enough evidence to implicate the former police rank.
The matter will be called again on September 11.

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