At the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, Ram Sookdyal called Kevin Narine was committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the High Court in Berbice for robbery under arms on the high seas despite pleas that he was “not guilty.”

Magistrate Krishndat Persaud found that a prima facie case had been made out and that there was enough evidence to commit Sookdyal.

The court heard that on August 10, 2007 in the vicinity of Number 43 Village, Sookdyal, while in the company of others and armed with dangerous weapons to wit guns, robbed Balwant Hemraj of almost $1.2M in articles.

The defendant reportedly made off with one 48-horsepower Yamaha outboard engine valued $500,000, foodstuff costing $30,000, one drum of gas valued $40,000 and a quantity of fish and fish glue worth $400,000 and $192,000 respectively.

The unrepresented Sookdyal, when asked what he had to say, told the magistrate, “Sir, I am not guilty.” He also tried unsuccessfully to tell the magistrate that there was not enough evidence to commit him.

Sookdyal, who uses the alias of Kevin Narine was detained in Suriname in January 2008 along with 11 others for high seas piracy.

Drunken brawl
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy of Line Path, Skeldon was committed to stand trial for reportedly murdering Keron Caldeira, 18, on November 2,
2008 at around 10.40 pm.

Caldeira, a labourer was fatally stabbed during a drunken brawl at Line Path, Skeldon and was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where he succumbed within 15 minutes while receiving treatment.

Reports are that the two were drinking in the company of others when an argument erupted over a pair of boots belonging to Caldeira that the attacker was reportedly wearing.