Trio charged with $2M goldsmith hold-up

Three of four men accused of holding-up a Richmond, Essequibo goldsmith and his wife and robbing them of jewellery in excess of $2M were on Tuesday remanded to prison.

The allegation against Dwayne Samuels, Chatnandan Harrilall, Junior Adolphus and Dennis Stephens is that on December 22, at Richmond, Essequibo Coast, being armed with a gun, they robbed Udho Gopaul of a quantity of gold jewellery valued $2.093M. On the same day, the quartet is also accused of using a gun to rob Zorma Gopaul of gold jewellery valued $238,600.

Appearing before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, Samuels, Harrilall and Adolphus were not required to plead to the two counts of the indictable charge of robbery-under-arms. Stephens was absent from court when the charge was read to his co-accused and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Meanwhile, the three men were remanded to prison until January 4, when the case is fixed for the Anna Regina Magistrates’ Court.