Man charged with huge T&T jewel heist

(Trinidad Guardian) Less than a week after Khan’s Gold Designs, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain, was robbed of more than TT$1 million worth of jewellery during a mid-afternoon robbery, two men appeared in court for the crime. Uriah Jones, 29 and Chad Raymond, 17, both of Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain, were not called upon to plead when they appeared in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates Court.

Jones appeared before Magistrate Melvin Daniel in the Fourth Court around 11.10 am yesterday, charged with robbing Sharmaine Khan of 330 diamond and gold rings, valued at TT$1,850,215, on January 19 at Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain. With no recommendation forthcoming from Sgt Stanley Joseph and no tracing available, Jones, who was unrepresented, was remanded in custody and will reappear today.

Minutes after Jones appeared, Raymond appeared before Magistrate Gloria Jasmath in the 11th Court. The charge against him was that on January 19, at Nelson Street, Port-of-Spain, he received two diamond rings valued at TT$13,000, the property of Khan’s Gold Designs, knowing them to be stolen. Although he was unrepresented when the matter was initially called around 11.06 am, Raymond was represented by attorney Richard Clarke-Wills when it was recalled around 11.30 am.

He left Clarke-Wills speechless after he said: “I am guilty of receiving the rings” when he was asked to enter a plea. Raymond appeared anxious after being told by Sgt Azad Ali that the tracing and facts were not available. Clarke-Wills promised to get Raymond’s mother to attend court today when he is scheduled to reappear. Both men were charged by WPC Jules of the Port-of-Spain CID.