Suspect in West Berbice home invasion remanded on robbery charges

Gopaul Seecharran, one of the suspects in the attack carried out on a West Coast Berbice family last Sunday, has been arrested and charged with three counts of armed robbery.

Seecharran, 20, of Murphy Dam, Rosignol, West Bank Berbice, was arraigned on Friday at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court, where Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer refused bail.

Seecharran, who was unrepresented, was not required to plead to the charges, which were indictable. It is alleged that while being in the company of others and being armed with a gun, he robbed Neeranie Kadir of a gold finger ring, worth $40,000. Seecharran is also charged with robbing sisters Alisha and Shaneeza Kadir of a gold chain, worth $10,000, and a gold chain with two gold bangles, worth $170,000.

Gopaul Seecharran
Gopaul Seecharran

After the charges were read, Police Prosecutor Corporal Desiree Pilgrim indicated to the magistrate her objection to bail.

Pilgrim cited the seriousness of the offences committed on the Kadir family as well as her fear that Seecharran is a flight risk. She noted that the accused might be faced with other charges for wounding that the victims sustained during the attack and she warned that should “bail be granted there is a possibility that the accused may never return for his trial.” Her submission was upheld by the magistrate and bail was refused.

Seecharran is to make the next court appearance on September 7th at the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

Neeranie Kadir, a market vendor was mercilessly chopped about her body by three armed bandits on early Sunday morning as she attempted to escape from them. Her husband, Abdool Kadir, 47 was also chopped about his body during the attack.