Stabroek Market jewellery heist…Alleged safe-cracker among three remanded

Jul 14, 2018 News

One week after burglars broke into the jewellery store of L. Seepersaud Maraj and Sons and carted off $22 M in gold and diamond jewellery, three persons were yesterday charged and remanded.
One of the men is said to be a safe-breaking expert, while another accused is said to hang around the Stabroek Market.
Those charged are Clifford Rodney, 66, of 265 One Mile Wismar, Linden; Albert De Freitas, 55, of 100 Leopold Street, Werk-en-rust and Trayon Parks, 31 of 107 Eccles, East Bank Demerara.
It is alleged that between July 2 and July 3 last at Stabroek Market, they broke and entered the jewellery store of L. Seepersaud Maraj and stole a quantity of gold and diamond jewellery valued $22M.
The suspects allegedly gained entry to the market via a hole in the grillwork near to the L. Seepersaud Maraj store.
The men appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Rodney, De Freitas and Parks were represented by Attorneys-at-law Pamela DaSantos, Kenzia Williams and Adrian Thompson respectively.
The lawyers representing the defendants in applications to secure bail told the court that their clients were beaten repeatedly to confess to the burglary.
The lawyers said they were instructed by their clients that officers placed black plastic bags over the heads of their clients and subjected them to electric shocks.
The court further heard that the defendants were repeatedly struck on the testicles.
However, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers asked that the defendants be remanded, citing the serious nature of the offence and the value of the stolen articles.
He added that all three men have matters of similar nature in the courts and if bail is granted that they would not return.
The Prosecutor also stated that the defendants admitted in a recorded interview to cutting open the safe and removing the articles.
Prosecutor Jeffers went on to tell the court that CCTV footage showed the three men entering the Sleep Inn Hotel. He stated that it was there that they divided the jewellery.
The Chief Magistrate in response agreed that that the accused would not return to court if she granted them bail.
She added that the prosecution has strong evidence
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