A MAN accused of robbing two Fly Jamaica employees and carting off over $5M at gunpoint was on Monday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

Kurt Kendell, 27 years, of 474 Section ‘B’ Non Pariel, East Coast Demerara, who had been convicted three years ago on a robbery under arms charge, stood yesterday once again in the prisoners docks and pleaded not guilty to two armed robbery charges.

It is alleged that on May 29 at Thomas Lands, Kendell being armed with a gun robbed Elizabeth Seepaul of $1.2M, property of Wings Aviation and $2.5M, property of Fly Jamaica

The court also heard that on the same day he robbed Christopher Ali of $1.6M, property of Fly Jamaica.

Kendell’s lawyer, Mr. Paul Fung-a-Fat explained that his client simply rented a car at Vick Taxi Service and was fingered in this ordeal. The lawyer argued that on the day in question his client was not present at the scene.

However Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that his facts differed. Mangru explained that on the day in question at about 10:30hrs the two Fly Jamaica employees boarded a company bus with the said cash to conduct business. Upon reaching Thomas Lands near Queen’s College, in Georgetown, a car drove up and blocked the path of the bus and two men, one of whom was armed with a gun, exited the car.

The men quickly entered the bus and relieved them of the said cash before making good their escape in the car. The matter was reported to the police and following investigations Kendell was arrested and he was positively identified as one of the men who had robbed the two employees.

Mangru objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness, prevalence of the offence and the fact that it was alleged that a gun was used in the commission of the robbery.
The prosecution’s objection to bail was upheld and Kendell was remanded to prison until June 22.