The devil finds work for idle hands, prisoners charged with impersonating first lady

Paul Lo-Hing
Wazim Mohamed

Already serving lengthy jail sentences, two prisoners are likely to have more time added to that which they were initially sentenced to.

Today, two inmates of the Mazaruni Prison appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where they were both charged with collecting monies under false pretense while pretending to be First Lady Sandra Granger.

Paul Lo-Hing, who is serving an eighty-three year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Shoala Gilgeous in 2012, allegedly obtained $30,000 worth of phone cards from Basmattie Singh under the pretense that he was the First Lady and could award her a scholarship.

In the second case, Lo-Hing was charged jointly with Wazim Mohamed for allegedly obtaining the sum of $30,000 worth of cell phone cards from Beverly Harris in April 2017 at Mahdia, by pretending to be the First Lady and was in the position to grant her a scholarship. Mohamed is serving a ten year sentence for killing his friend Russell Nelson in 2005.

The calls according to the prosecutor were made to the women from cellphones in the prisoners’ possession at the Mazaruni Prison. Singh transferred the credit from a vendor at Tuschen while Harris did so from Mahdia. Both men denied the charges against them and were remanded to prison until May 4.

Two charged with trafficking ecstasy, granted $150,000 bail

Shelly-Ann Gilgeous

A young couple was today charged and released on bail for trafficking of ecstasy. Lonsdale Hope and his reputed wife, Shelly-Ann Gilgeous appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and were charged with trafficking of ecstasy. The court was told that the couple on April 23 at Regent Street, Bourda had in their possession 66 grams of ecstasy for the purpose of trafficking. They denied the charge.

Lonsdale Hope

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail, citing the seriousness attached to the charge. The court was also told that on the day in question, acting on information received, ranks from the police narcotics branch intercepted motor car PSS 2037.  The drug was found in the backseat of the car in the woman’s handbag. Hope was said to be the driver of the car, while Gilgeous was in the passenger seat of the car. Despite the prosecutor’s objection to bail, the Chief Magistrate granted the couple bail in the sum of $150,000 and adjourned the matter until May 28.

Ex-boyfriend charged with the murder of a mother of 1 missing for two years

Shawnette Savory, missing woman

Two years after the mysterious disappearance of Shawnette Savory, her ex-boyfriend was today charged with the woman’s murder.  The indictable charge of murder was read to 34- year- old, Devindra Ramdiah called “Duck-man” of Prospect, East Bank Demerara, when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. It is alleged that Ramdiah committed the offence in August 2016 at Soesdyke, E.B.D. Ramdiah was remanded to prison until May, 2.

Devindra Ramdiah called “Duck-man” murder accused
The 37-year-old woman went missing after she left home to purchase credit for her prepaid meter, she was never seen or heard from since by her family. The Police intensified their efforts and conducted several searches since it was believed that the woman’s body was buried in a shallow grave, but those searches came up empty.
It was after the Police arrested the ex-boyfriend that he reportedly confessed to the crime.

Security guard charged with stealing over $400,000

A Security officer attached to Massy Security was today charged with stealing from his employer. Shaquan Williams of Mocha, East Bank Demerara appeared before Senior Magistrate, Fabayo Azore in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court where he denied the charge. The court was told that on April 20, 2018, at Lot ‘O’ Ruimveldt, Georgetown while being employed at Neal and Massy Store he stole 434,900.

The unrepresented Williams was released on $100,000 bail and the matter is adjourned until May 30.

Carpet thief fined $25,000

A thirty-year-old man, Leonard Saul was today fined $25,000 by Magistrate Fabayo Azore for stealing a carpet.

Saul admitted that on April 24 at Lot 172 Charlotte Street, Georgetown that he stole a black carpet valued $25,000 from Robert Rodriguez.

Police Prosecutor Simone Payne told the court that on the day in question the defendant was caught red-handed stealing the carpet

The Magistrates Azore after considering Saul’s early guilty plea ordered him to pay a fine of $25,000 or serve 3 weeks in jail.

Skeldon Food Vendor missing

Saeed Hamid aka “Saho” lives with his son at 41 Queenstown, Corriverton, Berbice. His son said he was last seen on Thursday and calls to his phone went unanswered, by Friday his phone was turned off. He said he found this strange since his father would never be out without him knowing of his whereabouts.
Hamid’s elder son has since made a missing person report to the Police in Springlands who are now investigating the matter. According to Hamid’s sons, neighbours told them that the man was last seen on Thursday going into a car.
His smaller son recalled that on Wednesday his father spoke about going up to Rosignol to do some business.
Afraz, the older son said no one knows exactly where his father went, with whom he was doing business with, who he traveled with and who he was going to meet.
The young man said his father does not drink alcohol or had no known mental issues.
 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Saeed Hamid is asked to contact the nearest Police Station or his son on 611-6598

Seafort Street man remanded for drug trafficking

The 27-year-old man appeared City Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ court to answer to drug trafficking charges.

According to the Police report, the man Dwayne Edwards, of Seafort Street, Campbellville was caught with 954 grams of cannabis in his possession for the purpose of trafficking on April, 20th. He denied the charge.

The court was told by Police Prosecutor, Arwin Moore that on the day in question, ranks on mobile patrol in the area saw Edwards with a plastic bag in his hand, Edwards reportedly threw the bag in an apartment which was later retrieved by police ranks and the drugs were found inside. He was remanded to prison until May 14th.