Two policemen were yesterday charged with robbing a Brazilian national at the Takutu Bridge.
Daniel Kellman, 25, of Linden and Sherwin Spiers, 21, of Parika, were charged with robbing Ronaldo Ferreira of a BLU cellphone, valued $38,000 and R$20, which is equivalent to GY$1,200, while being armed with firearms on February 20th, 2019, at Takutu Bridge.
The ranks, who were represented by attorney Jerome Khan, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was read to them in Georgetown by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Khan told the court that his clients, who were issued firearms by the Guyana Police Force, had been assigned to the Lethem Bridge. He also noted that there are gangsters operating in the area where the men were assigned.
On the night in question, Khan said, his clients saw two men who were not supposed to be on the bridge and they requested that the men leave but they refused. Upon searching the two men, they found a cellphone and a quantity of narcotics on them. “Why would these fine young men ruin their career for an old beat up cell phone?” he questioned.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted to the ranks, while noting that they were issued firearms and were assigned to perform duties at the Lethem Multi Complex. However, he said the ranks left and went to the Takutu Bridge and confronted Ferreira and relieved him of his phone and money. Ferreira then went to the police station and made a report and the ranks were found and arrested. A search was carried out on them and his articles were recovered.
Kellman and Spiers were eventually each granted $100,000 bail with the conditions that they report to the Lethem Police Station every Friday. The case was adjourned until March 5th, when it is to be heard at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court.
