Bel Air heist accused threatened to kill witness’s family – court told

Hardat Kumar, one of the accused in the July 12, 2011 $7 million Bel Air heist, was yesterday arraigned on an obstruction of justice charge, based on the claim that he threatened to kill the family of a witness if he testified against him and his co-accused.

Kumar was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who noted the seriousness of the allegation when his lawyer tried to secure his release on self-bail.

It is alleged that Kumar, on October 13, made contact with the sister of Rabindranauth Seemangal and threatened to kill her and the rest of his family if he gave evidence in the trial.

Seemangal had been charged alongside Kumar, Chandraradha Rampersaud, Jermaine Mitchell, Aubrey Simon, and Rayon Jones with the armed robbery of Rampersaud’s daughter,