Two men including the bodyguard of a Belgian diamond dealer who was robbed at gunpoint earlier this month of $90 million in diamonds appeared yesterday before Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle and were refused bail.
Leon Hescott, called ‘DuDu’, 24, of 62 Princes Street, Lodge and Kenroy Bailey, called ‘Hulk’, 53, of 184 Waterloo Street, both pleaded not guilty to robbery under arms at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on March 2 at Georgetown, Hescott and Bailey, armed with a handgun, robbed Karim De Toledo of diamonds valued $90 million and $350,000 in cash. According to reports De Toledo, 58, of Pike Street, Kitty was about to enter the New Courtyard restaurant and bar when the robbers, who were apparently on his trail, drove up in a car and confronted him. The robbers brandished a gun and demanded that he hand over his cash and diamonds. Police said De Toledo surrendered the bag to the gunmen and also handed over the cash. The robbers then got into their Toyota 212 motorcar and escaped.
Attorney-at-law Basil Williams represented Hescott, while Attorney-at-law Nigel Anthony represented Bailey. Williams told the court that his client repairs air conditioners and never had any previous convictions. He added that the police arrested about five persons and released four. He said he believes the police are “fishing” and that his client who has the support of his family in court should be granted reasonable bail. Anthony said Bailey is a freelance security officer who also had no brushes with the law and who was still employed by the complainant.
Police Prosecutor Desiree Fowler asked that bail for the two men be refused stating that the police had recovered $700,000 and a car from Bailey and $300,000 and another car from Hescott which are lodged with the police. She added that Bailey is no longer employed. The complainant, she said, worked at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and went there but had no work permit so he left for his hotel. It was during this period that he was confronted by the two men and relieved of the diamonds and money. She said the men admitted that they had colluded in the robbery.
Williams responded that the $300,000 was money placed by his client’s brother for his bail. He added that his client was locked up for days and could not have lodged the money. Further he said “there was no ID parade held in this matter and there is no basis that the prosecution can tell you that the accused was one of two men who robbed the VC who is a foreigner.” He continued that the prosecution could not prove its case and the court is concerned with whether the accused would take flight in granting bail.
Anthony stated that “because someone has recently acquired a car and $700,000 was found in his house that does not mean that a crime has been committed, the logic escapes me.” He added that he refutes categorically the prosecution’s case that his client is no longer employed. It was stated to the court that Bailey worked as De Toledo’s bodyguard.
However, the men were remanded and their case transferred to Court Two for April 2.
