One 'Blackie' gang member secures bail
MAGISTRATE Dawn Holder-Alert yesterday granted bail to three of the men implicated in the more than $600,000 Didco Trading Company Limited 1999 robbery at Cowan Street, Kingston, Georgetown. But, like Andrew Peter Douglas also known as Todd Dexter alias `Fine Man', alleged lieutenant of slain bandit Linden London called `Blackie', although surety for the trio was set at $500,000 each, two of them will remain in jail. Toyin Anderson, 26, of Lot 42 Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara and Omali Rogers, 23, of Lot 83 Woodpecker Lane, Amelia's Ward, Linden have not been released because Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat and Magistrate Ramlall respectively, refused them pre-trial liberty on other charges. Sherwin Brandt, 22, of Lot 15 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, is the other member of the quartet facing several accusations in the Didco case and fingered as `Blackie' gang members. Previously, Anderson, Rogers and Brandt had been allowed conditional freedom on $300,000 recognisances in relation to one of the accusations which said they robbed Sharon Ramdehol, a Didco employee, of $635,502 while being armed with guns. Mrs Holder-Alert said the remanded prisoners are charged with bailable offences and the Prosecution cannot estimate when it would conclude while stating no grounds for refusal of the grant. When ruling, she quoted former Chancellor Keith Massiah, in the Attorney General verses Alli, where he said: "The Court cannot retreat into a state of agoraphobia, refusing to venture forth and to express an opinion one way of another." Douglas, Anderson, Brandt and Rogers are also accused of robbing: * security guard Rakharam Singh of a $70,000 Taurus .32 revolver and six matching bullets priced at $600, property of Didco; * Didco employee Gail Baird of a gold band and a gold chain, all worth $60,000 and * another Didco employee, Sharon Ramdehol, of three gold rings and an artificial earring, with a total value of $12,250; One more charge said the quartet attempted to murder Singh by discharging loaded guns at him. The preliminary inquiry (PI) into those charges has been adjourned to April 10. In the same Court, Assistant Superintendent Oswald Massiah, prosecuting, indicated that he will close his case surrounding the January 10 National Insurance Scheme (NIS) $13M haul from Brickdam, Georgetown offices on April 7. Meanwhile, he continued to oppose bail for Douglas, on the ground that the prisoner might flee the jurisdiction, as well. Earlier, Corporal Kenneth Welcome, stationed at Criminal Investigations Department, Brickdam, reported that the passport issued Douglas is in the custody of the Suriname authorities who apprehended the fugitive for him to be extradited here. Defence Counsel Nigel Hughes, representing Douglas, too, had asked that it be produced, saying the travel document would prove the accused was in the neighbouring republic when the crime was committed and the Police are "ducking evidence because they will be embarrassed." Two former NIS cashiers, June Ann Perez and Patricia Toney testified yesterday and were led through their evidence-in-chief by Massiah. Douglas is accused of robbing Perez of $13,736,993 while being armed with a gun. In another Court, Chief Magistrate Paul Fung-A-Fat took depositions from three witnesses at the continuation of the PI into charges that followed the America Street September 22 robbery, also in the capital. Corporal Ewart Hutson nicknamed `Toots', who was shot injured in the process of that robbery, Ramzan Bacchus, one of the robbed businessmen and Detective Sergeant Marlon Chapman were led through their evidence-in-chief by Special Prosecutor Khemraj Ramjattan. Chapman was crossed-examined by Hughes, on behalf of Douglas and co-accused Kevin Alli. Mr Fung-A-Fat adjourned the matter to April 3 and remanded both accused to prison. Douglas and Alli called `Rasfo', of Lot 256 Sisters Village, Long Pond, West Bank Demerara, are accused of robbing Latchman Mohabeer of G$3,427,397, US$36,499, 10,990 pounds (Sterling), CDn$5,040, TT$10,117, EC$1,555, Bds$1,010, property of Deodat Singh, while being armed with guns. Alli is accused of being an accessory to the crime and, with Douglas, of robbing Ramzan Bacchus of $1.5M belonging to Hanif Bacchus. Douglas alone is charged with attempting to murder Jermine Brower, Vish Narine, Brian Nelson, Hutson and Mubarak Khan. Sirimarvo Indera Rudolph, also of Lot 256 Sisters Village, Long Pond, West Bank Demerara, is charged with receiving $100,000 from Douglas on September 22, at Corriverton, Corentyne, Berbice, knowing the money was part of the booty from America Street. Venetta Samlall called `Baby', of Lot 43 Race Course Dam, at Corentyne, too, is accused of accepting $100,000 from Douglas on September 22, knowing it was included in the America Street haul.
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