Police grill 'Blackie' accomplice on taped allegations
POLICE COURT Superintendent Gordon Gilhuys yesterday admitted that cops questioned remanded prisoner Andrew Peter Douglas last Saturday about the controversial tape recording attributed to him. The Police officer confirmed the grilling after Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes, in the Didco robbery case, reported the happening on the resumption of the preliminary inquiry being conducted by Magistrate Dawn Holder-Alert. The lawyer said Douglas, charged with the September 1999 heist in Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown, was asked about the accuracy of the taped record. Hughes said Douglas, also known as Todd Dexter, of Lot 32 Friendship Middle Walk, East Coast Demerara, is aware of the recorded allegations against senior Government and Police officers but has no comment to make about them. Counsel said he went to visit Douglas at the Camp Street prison around 14:00 hours (2 p.m.) Saturday and the accused related to him what had occurred earlier that day. According to Hughes, policemen told Douglas that, if he does not deny the contents of the tape, he would be charged with murder. Defence Counsel said a Prison reception officer was present at the interrogation and requested that the prisoner's constitutional rights be respected while he is in custody on charges instituted by the Police themselves. Mrs Holder-Alert asked Assistant Superintendent Oswald Massiah, who is prosecuting in the case, whether the Police are carrying out further investigations but the Prosecutor was unable to say. However, following the confirmation by Gilhuys, Mrs Holder-Alert said, once the probe is not continuing, cops have no right to grill Douglas. But the Court Superintendent maintained that the Police had reasons to visit Douglas at the penitentiary in relation to the tape and added that they will be visiting him from time to time as other issues arise. Gilhuys said, if Hughes can provide evidence that Douglas was threatened, an inquiry would be launched. Counsel, declaring that he is trying to prevent Douglas from dying in jail, requested that the Police inform him when they are going to question Douglas again. Defence Counsel Joseph Harmon, for other accused Toyin Anderson, who is also charged with the Didco robbery, said he had written the Commissioner of Police when his client was removed from prison and taken somewhere else but he never received a reply. Mrs Holder-Alert directed that lawyers be notified so they could be present when their clients are being subjected to questioning. Meanwhile, Sergeant Marlon Chapman, who is stationed at Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Eve Leary and attached to the Homicide Squad, testified at the pre-trial proceedings yesterday. While leading the witness through his evidence-in-chief, Massiah sought to tender a statement he alleged was made by Douglas but Hughes objected to its admissibility. Anderson, 26, of Lot 42 Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, Omali Rogers, 23, of Lot 83 Woodpecker Lane, Amelia's Ward, Linden and Sherwin Brandt, 22, of Lot 15 Norton Street, Wortmanville, also in the city, were granted $300,000 bail each on the charge which said they robbed Sharon Ramdehol, a Didco employee, of $635,502 while being armed with guns last September 1. But they remain in prison, like Douglas who was refused, on other charges. Douglas, Anderson, Brandt and Rogers are accused, as well, of robbing: * Rakharam Singh of a .32 `Taurus' revolver worth $70,000 and six rounds of matching ammunition priced at $600, property of Didco; * Gail Baird of a gold band and a gold chain, all worth $60,000 and * Ramdehol of three gold rings and an artificial earring, with a total value of $12,250, all at Didco. The group is accused, too, of attempting to murder Singh by discharging loaded guns at him. Douglas alone is implicated in the January 10 National Insurance Scheme $13,736,993 armed robbery, which was allegedly masterminded by slain bandit Linden London called `Blackie'. The Didco inquiry resumes today. In another Court, Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat postponed similar proceedings surrounding the September 22, 1999 America Street robbery, also in the capital, until Thursday. Douglas alone is charged with attempting to murder Jermine Brower, Vish Narine, Brian Nelson, Ewart `Toots' Hutson and Mubarak Khan in the execution of that crime. Douglas and Alli, of Lot 256 Sisters Village, Long Pond, West Bank Demerara, are accused of robbing Latchman Mohabeer at gunpoint of G$3,427,397, US$36,499, 10,990 pounds (Sterling), CDn$5,040, TT$10,117, EC$1,555 and Bds$1,010 belonging to Deodat Singh. The same duo are alleged to have robbed Ramzan Bacchus of G$1.5M that belonged to Hanif Bacchus and Police claim Alli was an accessory to that crime, as well. Sirimarvo Indera Rudolph, also of Lot 256 Sisters Village, Long Pond, West Bank Demerara, is charged with receiving $100,000 from Douglas at Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice, after the September 22 haul, knowing that the sum was part of the booty. Venetta Samlall called `Baby', of Lot 43 Race Course Dam, Corentyne, is also ensnared in an allegation that she got another $100,000 from Douglas under similar circumstances.
|