A BRAZILIAN national who is facing three counts of robbery and one charge of attempting to commit a felony was refused bail Monday by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
Paulo Silva (no address given) was not required to plead to the indictable charges that said on February 5 at Pasifico General Store at Barrack Retreat Street, Lethem, he attempted to commit a felony, that is to say, being armed with a handgun he attempted to rob Yon Fat Chong.The second offence said on December 4, 2013 at the same place being armed with a gun he robbed Zhou Sheng of one cellular phone and one laptop computer, valued together $188,000.
The third allegation stated that on the same day, being armed with a handgun, he robbed Pasifico General Store of $70,000 Brazilian currency which is equivalent to $7M Guyana dollars, $1,700 US dollars equivalent to $340,000 Guyana dollars, $3M Guyana dollars, and 60 wristwatches, together valued $11.8M, property of Chong and Sheng.
The fourth charge said on December 4, 2013, being armed with a gun he robbed Chong of $310US, $240SRD, and $40,000 Guyana dollars.
Police Inspector Michael Grant, prosecuting, said on December 4, last about 19:10 hrs the victims were in Pasifico General Store, when the accused along with two others tied up Chong and Sheng and robbed them of the articles mentioned in the particulars. On February 5, around 18:00 hrs he was arrested on his way to Brazil and was positively identified by the victims as the person who committed the crime on December 4.
He said on February 5, Silva along with others attempted to commit a felony and tied up the victims but public-spirited citizens went to their rescue and the men made good their escape.
The prosecutor requested that bail be denied, citing the nature and prevalence of the crime and the fact that a firearm was used in the commission of the offences. He added that the accused being a Brazilian national, may not return for his trial if he were granted bail.
Attorney-at-law, Peter Hugh who represented Silva inquired if investigations were completed and if his client was placed on an ID parade, but the prosecutor responded in the negative.
The defence lawyer said it is unfair to say that his client is a flight risk since he is a Brazilian national because many foreigners traverse Lethem to purchase gas and other items. He requested bail, stating that to have his client incarcerated is like having him spending more time than the penalty.
However, bail was refused and the case was transferred to Lethem Court for March 3.