Latest update April 24th, 2026 12:40 AM
Duo remanded over $6M armed robbery
Two men who reportedly entered a store in the Interior pretending to be customers, pulled a gun on an attendant and made off with in excess of $6M in cash and raw gold, appeared in court yesterday.
Damaisa Watson, 26, of Lot 102 Strathspey, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Mark Anthony, 27, of Lot 100 Melanie Damishana, ECD, were arraigned in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. They appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who remanded them both to jail on a robbery under arms charge.
According to the Police, last Wednesday (October 29) around 12:30 hours the two men entered the business premises of Anderson Batista at Tamakay Landing, Mazaruni River, where they met with a worker, Manuel DeArujo.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Michael Grant reported that the two, pretending to be customers, took some pieces of raw gold and gave it to DeArujo asking him to weigh it for them.
He explained that it was then that they pulled out guns and dealt the worker several blows about his body causing him to receive injuries. Grant explained that the duo went into the store, opened a ‘canister’ and removed $4,081,000 as well as 10 ounces of raw gold, valued at $2M.
The Prosecution said that Watson and Anthony escaped but the police, who later received word of their whereabouts, arrested them. Grant told the court that the duo was placed on an identification parade and the victim, who knew the two men prior to the incident, identified them as the gun-toting robbers.
They were subsequently charged with the offence.
In court, Watson and Anthony denied the charge however, and submitted an application for bail. Their lawyer, Peter Hugh, who made the bail petition, will be defending them in this matter in association with Attorney-at-Law Latchmie Rahamat.
Hugh told the Court that his clients, both of whom are miners, had never been charged or convicted before. He claimed that his clients were not at the location during the alleged robbery.
The lawyer added that Watson and Anthony had been detained by the police for five days before being brought to court.
His bail application was objected to by the Prosecutor who asked the court to consider the serious nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence. In his bail objections, Grant pointed out the hefty sum as well as the fact that a firearm was used in the robbery.
He opined that the men were flight risks who would not return to face the charge since they both reside on the East Coast of Demerara and the incident occurred in Mazaruni. His objection was also that the two men know the victim and may “tamper” with him if released on bail.
Hugh argued, however, that persons travel to Bartica “all the time” for court matters and added that his clients will return to court.
Notwithstanding Hugh’s petition, bail was denied and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court. It is set to be called before Magistrate Allan Wilson on November 13.
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