Police prosecutor Shellon Daniels on Monday withdrew two charges against two men accused of robbing Pure Diamond of $10 million and instituted a charge which includes another man.

Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton on Monday refused bail to Andre Romeon Crandon, Nazim Benni and Nabadingi Gobin when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. The three men were not required to plead to robbery under arms and discharging a loaded firearm. Crandon and Benni were remanded last Tuesday for the same offence.

The police prosecutor asked that the previous charges against the two be withdrawn and to proceed with the charges including the three men.

It is alleged that on August 13 while armed with guns, Crandon, Benni and Gobin robbed St Clair Mohamed of $10 million, property of Pure Diamond. On the same date the trio is also accused of discharging a loaded firearm at Fitzroy Whyte with intent to maim, disfigure or disable or cause him grievous bodily harm.

Attorney-at-law Vic Puran represented Gobin and he told the court “these are serious crimes and it’s unfair to have a new prosecutor.” He stated that the court must also satisfy itself that the charges are proper and that there ought to be reasonable suspicion against his client before he can be remanded. He added that according to his instructions the two other men were beaten to call his client’s name.

Crandon told the court that he did not know Gobin and that he was beaten to call that name.

Attorney-at-law Peter Hugh who represented Benni stated that this was the first time his client had seen Gobin.

The prosecutor objected to bail for all the men saying that the police investigated and arrested Crandon who led them to arrest the others and some of the booty was found on all the accused.

Crandon and Benni appeared in court before charged with being part of a gang which has been committing robberies across the country.

They will return to court on October 26.