Guns and ammo bust on the East Bank, Grove man jailed and two co-accused remanded

The 30-year-old man, Micheal Vanderstoop of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank of Demerara was today sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined $100,000. This was after he pleaded guilty to the two charges when he appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan.
The charges read in the court today alleges that Vanderstoop and two other men on September 6, 2018, at Samantha Point Grove, Public Road had a 9mm Ruger Pistol and 45 Colt Pistol and six rounds of 9mm ammunition along with four rounds of .45 ammunition.
While Vanderstoop pleaded guilty, Jason Hunte, 32  who was said to be the mastermind and Terrence Frank, 33 both of Samantha Point Grove, EBD pleaded not guilty to the two charges and were remanded to prison until September 27th. The matter was transferred to the Providence Magistrates’ Court.
The men were represented in the court by attorneys at law George Thomas and Patrice Henry. The attorney’s in their bail applications noted that no firearm was found in the possession of their clients. They pointed out that their clients were only passengers in a motor vehicle, which was stopped by the police. A search of the vehicle uncovered the items inside the vehicle.  The men were arrested following a police intelligence lead operation.

Former PS granted $1M dollars bail to pursue  scholarship at the Hugh Wooding Law School

Omar Shariff, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Presidency, who is before the court on trial for failing to comply with a production order contrary to Section 26 of the Anti Money Laundering Act was today granted $1Million dollars bail.  Back in January, Shariff and his reputed wife were charged and appeared before Magistrate Azore. They were both required to lodge their passports and report every Monday to SOCU.
 Today in the court, his lawyer, Sanjeev Datadin made an application for Shariff’s passport to be returned to him. He told the court that the former PS was granted a scholarship to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago and was in need of his passport to travel. SOCU special prosecutor, Patrice Henry did not object to Shariff getting his passport back.
Magistrate Azore instructed that Shariff’s passport be returned to him as she imposed a $1M dollar bail to ensure his return to court. The matter will be heard again on September 17th.
 Meanwhile, Shariff ‘s lawyer Sanjeev Datadin is expected to make a no case- submission at the next hearing.
 The former PS was fired by the Ministry of the Presidency following a probe by the Special Organised Crime Unit into financial crimes he allegedly committed, but the former PS has denied those allegations.

Kitty man in custody after woman is killed in an accident

The accident occurred just around 10:00 last night on the Goedverwagting  Public Road, East Coast of Demerara and involved a motor car and a pedestrian.
There are reports that the car PRR 6071 was proceeding West along the southern side of the road when the accident occurred. The driver told the police investigators that the pedestrian ran across the road from South to North.
 The left front side of the vehicle collided with the woman,  she was picked up taken to the GPHC and died about 05:35 while receiving treatment this morning.
Up to news time, the body was still to be identified and is currently at the GPHC  mortuary.
The Police said a breathalyzer test was conducted on the driver and it revealed that no alcohol was found in his system. He remains in custody as the probe continues.

Son killed by father after he intervened in an altercation between his father and spouse

The murder took place at 217 Fifth Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara last night. Dead is 21 yr.old Satesh ‘Kevin ‘Sookdeo.
According to a report from the Police, their initial investigations revealed that the suspect and his spouse had an argument and he held her by the neck and began to choke her.
The release added that the victim and another sibling intervened, the suspect then allegedly broke a window pane and fatally stabbed the victim in his stomach area.
The 44-year-old father is currently in Police custody as the police investigation continues into the matter.
The body is presently at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

DDL employee charged with causing death by dangerous driving

A West Bank Demerara man was today charged with causing death by dangerous driving. The man 35-year-old Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) employee Jermain Lambert appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he pleaded not guilty.

The court was told that on June 16, 2018, at Lombard Street, while being in the driver’s seat he drove minibus BRR 5039 in a dangerous manning which resulted in the death of a pedestrian, 78-year-old Richard Barker.

 

It was also said that another vehicle stopped to allow the senior citizen to cross the street when Lambert swerved from the minibus and collided with Barker. The unconscious man was picked up and rushed to the hospital but he did on July 5.

 

The man was released $350,000 bail on condition that he lodged his passport at the Court. He also had his driver’s license suspended until the completion of the matter. Lambert will return to court on September 13.

 

 

Third man charged with the murder of that Bourda Market cheese vendor

Roy Sandford, 33-years-old of Section “D” Sophia is now jointly charged with Akeem Morris, a 26-year- old miner of Sandy Bob Street, Kitty, and George Paton, 34-year-old a taxi driver of Eccles, East Bank Demerara for the murder of Bourda Market Cheese Vendor Troy Ramalho.

The trio appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan where the indictable charge was read to them. Today was Sandford’s first appearance, Morris and Paton were already charged and remanded.

The court was told that the men on August 15, 2018, allegedly murdered Ramalho during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

Paton, the taxi driver told the court that he feared for his life and that he is being threatened. He also added that his co-accused are programming other persons “to do me things in deh…. I’m fearful” he pointed out. He said he was only hired to drop Morris and Sandiford. The Chief Magistrate ordered Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers to investigate the allegations. The men were remanded until September 24.

Paton was unrepresented while Morris and Sandiford were represented by attorneys-at-law George Thomas and Dexter Todd.

The police made a breakthrough when they arrested the 34-year-old taxi driver from Eccles on the East Bank of Demerara who reportedly told investigators that he dropped the killers to and from the location. He was reportedly paid $30,000 after he completed the drops.

 

 

Police released on $25K bail for driving under the influence

Police-constable charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Ryan Persaud the 23-year-old Policeman appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court this morning before Magistrate Marissa Mittelholzer and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

On September 1st Persaud was involved in an accident which resulted in the death of Akemo Anthony of 338 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme. At the time, the Policeman was driving the Force’s Vehicle PVV 4652 allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

The Constable was attached to the Police Impact Base and resided in Gordon Street, Kitty. In the court today, the young policeman was represented by Attorney Eusi Anderson who during his application for bail told the court that his client is the father of a young son and is the sole breadwinner of his family.

He added that his that his client is being investigated in another matter in relation to a fatality on the day in question.

The prosecutor, Inspector Layne made no objection to the attorney’s application but requested that the accuse lodged his passport

Magistrate Mittelholzer released Persaud on $25,000 bail. He was told to lodge his passport at the court. He will make his next court appearance on October 11. Anthony succumbed to his injuries after he was hit by the Police Vehicle on Mandela Avenue last Saturday night. There are reports that he was attempting to cross the road in the vicinity of back Circle on his Motorcycle when was struck by the Police vehicle. That matter is still under police probe.