Suspect charged in $10M armed robbery of gold miners

A man was yesterday accused of robbing two gold miners of $10M in property in a gunpoint hold-up in the city.

Mark George 27, of Lot 19 Hadfield, Lodge pleaded not guilty to two armed robbery charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where his bail was set at $1M.

It was alleged that George and an accomplice committed the robbery on Jean and Carlotta Melville on December 4, at Alberttown.

Mark George

Police Prosecutor Venetta Pindar told the court that George and another man, both armed, pulled up alongside the Melvilles and ordered them to stop their vehicle, then relieved them of their articles and escaped. It is alleged that over $9M in property was taken from Jean Meville and over $360,000 was taken from Carlotta Melville.

The robbery was reported and George was later arrested.
However, his lawyer said that George was approached by the police, who claimed they were told that he had information about the robbery.

The lawyer added that George maintained he knew nothing about it but he went with them anyway.
Pindar asked for substantial bail to be set and with the condition that the accused report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

As a result, George was granted $600,000 bail on the charge of the armed robbery of Jean Melville and $400,000 on the charge of the armed robbery of Carlotta Melville.

The matters will be called again in Court Two on January 9, 2013 for reports and fixtures.