Detective Sergeant Phillip Bowman and Police Constable Harold De Veira yesterday took to the stand and testified as the trial into the July 12, 2011 $7M Bel Air Gardens robbery continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
Bowman who is stationed at the East La Penitence Police Station testified about receiving certain information on the day in question, acting upon which he conducted a search which subsequently led to the discovery of a quantity of US and local currency.
He said that the find was made beneath a generator located in the compound of the Ocean Spray Hotel.
He said that he later marked, sealed and lodged the money at the police station.
Meanwhile, De Veira testified about conducting motorcycle patrol duties in the Sheriff Street area with another rank on the day in question when he received certain information over his handheld radio set, causing him to go to the Bel Air Gardens residence of the virtual complainant.
After arriving there, De Veira said that he subsequently participated in a chase along several streets until he, along with his co-worker, intercepted the defendants at the Ocean Spray Hotel.
He noted that other policemen were by then deployed to the scene after which the men were arrested and placed in custody.
At the time of the incident, De Veira said he was stationed at the Tactical Services Unit, Eve Leary.
The trial continues on July 24. The allegation against Jermaine Mitchell, Rabindranaught Seemangal, Aubrey Simon, Rayon Jones, Hardat Kumar, Chandraradha Rampersaud is that on July 12 at Bel Air Gardens, being armed with a gun, they robbed Annie Ramsood of $1.4M and US$29,000 (equivalent to $5.8M), all totaling $7.2M.
Shawn Hinds who was initially one of the accused has since been cleared of the charges against him.
Additionally, being armed with a gun, they were all also accused of robbing Ramsood of one BlackBerry cell phone and a quantity of cash valued $427,000.
In addition, Mitchell, Simon, Hinds and Seemangal were arraigned for having in their possession eight rounds of 9mm ammunition and one 9mm pistol without being the holders of firearm and ammunition licences in force at the time.
Finally, Simon was accused of attaching a false number plate to a vehicle. Simon denied that on July 12 he had a false number plate, being PKK 3700 on a motor vehicle, knowing same to be false.
