Wednesday February 12, 2014
Kaieteur News
Page 27
NY Mandir gives $2M in Three Brazilians indicted for gun-related crimes assistance to charitable entities Three middle-aged Brazilian men who were intercepted at the GuyanaBrazilian border were on Monday brought to a city court to be indicted for a number of gun-related crimes which recently occurred in Lethem. One of the three men was fingered as the suspect behind an armed $10M robbery committed on a C h i n e s e - o w n e d haberdashery store in Lethem last December as well as another attempt to rob the said store a matter of days ago. Paulo Silva was indicted and remanded on account of an attempted robbery charge as well as three counts of robbery under arms when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. The charge of an attempt to commit a felony laid against him detailed that on February 5, at Pacifico General Store, Barrack Retreat Street, Lethem, he attempted to use a gun to rob Yung Fat Chung. On December 4, 2013, at Pacifico, armed with a handgun, he allegedly robbed Sue Li Sheng of one $80,000 Sony cellular phone and a $160,000 laptop. At the said time, he is said to have robbed the store of R$70,000 (Brazilian currency (Real) which is equivalent to G$7M), US$1,700 (approximately G$340,000), G$3M in cash, as well as 60 wrist watches which amount to $1.5M, property of Sue Li Cheng, Douglas Chung and De Chute. Silva is accused also of relieving Yung Fat Chung of US$310 (G$62,000), Surinamese $240 (G$16,000) and G$40,000. As it relates to the armed robbery which occurred last December, State Prosecutor Inspector Michael Grant relayed that about 19:30 hours on the day of the incident, the victim was in the general store located at 8 Commercial Zone, Lethem, when Silva along with two others entered. Grant indicated that the accused was armed with a gun and proceeded to tie up Yung Fat Chow before he relieved him of the articles mentioned and escaped. On account of the recent attempted robbery, Grant explained that on February 5, the victim was in the said general store in Lethem when the accused again entered the store and tied up the victims. This time, however, public spirited citizens went to the victim’s rescue and Silva ran away. The Inspector related that Silva managed to flee, but at
about 18:00 hours that same day he was intercepted on his way to Brazil and was positively identified by the victims as the person who had robbed them last December and who had attempted to rob them earlier in the day. S u b s e q u e n t investigations were reportedly conducted which led to Silva being charged for the armed robbery. The Prosecutor objected to bail citing the serious nature, prevalence and gravity of the alleged offence as well as the fact that a firearm was allegedly used to commit these offences. Grant said that Silva’s nationality made it more than likely that the accused is a flight risk who will attempt to flee the jurisdiction, adding that he was arrested at the crossing. However, his objections were met with arguments from Silva’s legal representative, Peter Hugh who inquired when the investigations into the matter will be completed. Hugh said that it is unfair to hold his client until the Prosecution completes its investigation especially since “no identification parade was conducted.” He argued: “it is unfair to say that because someone is a foreign national, he will flee as from the time they are granted bail, they are seriously blacklisted.” The lawyer stated that on account of the alleged robbery, he is certain that
nothing was found on his client who “was merely crossing the bridge at the time. I am sure that nothing was found or he would have been charged for possession of firearms and ammunition.” “Prevalence is not relevant in this case madam. There are not many cases of robbery in Lethem; it is a very quiet place, so I do not believe that that is enough to keep him without bail,” he stated. Hugh continued his plea, stating that his client can provide an address and is willing to subject himself to conditional bail and report to the police station as ordered. According to the lawyer, his client had been in custody for more than 72 hours. Notwithstanding the arguments put forth in the bail application, the Chief Magistrate did not offer Silva bail. POSSESSION OF GUNS,AMMO Meanwhile, Joan Oliveira and Mauro Andrade were jointly charged for a firearm and ammunition possession when they appeared before the Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry and were both granted $300,000 bail for each charge. On February 5, at Lethem they allegedly had a .38 revolver as well as 6 matching rounds of live ammunition when neither of them was a licenced firearm holder. They both pleaded not guilty to the charge and Continued on page 30
Pandit Persaud (second from left) along with workers and children at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. Little Shereen Ally is seven years old. She cannot speak, read, write, walk and she cannot move her body without assistance. She is bedridden and has been living at the Hope Children’s Home located in Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) since she was three years old. The little girl who was abandoned by her mother at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation because of her physical condition is a joyful child who reacts to love and affection with a smile. Since she has been living at the orphanage her mother visited her once. Her only relatives now are the caregivers at the home and the other children. Because of Ally’s medical condition she has to be lifted from one location to another when required. Recognizing that a wheelchair would make it
easier for Ally and her caregivers, President of the Brooklyn, USA-based Vighneshwar Mandir, Pandit Mochan Persaud presented one to her last year. And two Mondays ago, on behalf of the Mandir, he donated an adjustable bed to Ally. Apart from the bed, the orphanage received $110,000 worth in groceries and $100,000 cash from Persaud, also on behalf of the members of the mandir. The Mandir was founded 16 years ago and has since assisted less fortunate persons in and around the Caribbean. For the past three years, Persaud has been making similar contributions to several local charitable organizations here. This year he donated a total of G$2M in cash and other items to nine such entities countrywide. Those who benefited from
the donations are the Dharm Shala - $100,000 in cash and 110,000 in groceries; Hope Children’s Home - $100,000 cash and $110,000 in groceries; Bless the Children Home - $100,000 cash and $104,000 in groceries; Canaan Children’s Home - $100,000 cash and $75,000 in groceries; Camal Home - $100,000 cash and $100,000 in groceries; Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre - $200,000; Prabhu Sharan Orphanage - $125,000 cash and $75,000 in groceries; Doobay Medical Centre $300,000 and Cheshire Home $200,000 in cash. According to Persaud, the members of his Mandir have recognized the good work being done by the Doobay Medical Centre and decided to add the institution to their list. The Doobay Renal Centre is a non-profitableorganization that offers a subsidised renal service to the public.
Woman granted bail for sex-tape fraud
The accused as they arrived at court.
A unique fraud case was on Monday called before the Chief Magistrate when a woman was indicted after she reportedly attempted to obtained cash for a sex-tape of another woman’s husband. Fazila Khan is accused of attempting to obtain $40,000 on February 7 from Tricia Persaud at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, after she claimed she had a Digital Virtual Disc (DVD) which contained sexual information about the woman’s husband. Khan, who is representing herself in court, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to her. She is being prosecuted by Inspector Michael Grant who said that Khan contacted
Persaud, claiming that she possessed sex tapes of her husband. Grant related that the two women made arrangements for them to do the exchange, so they both ventured to Vlissengen Road where Khan parked her car some distance away from Persaud. However, she was soon apprehended by ranks when she exited the car and subsequent charges were instituted against her. In response, Khan was granted bail in the sum of $125,000 and she was ordered to return to court on March 22. The Prosecutor was also ordered to have his statements filed for that court date.