…released on $100,000 bail each

FOUR Guyana Fire Service (GFS) ranks were jointly charged on Wednesday for simple larceny committed on passengers and crew members on board the Fly Jamaica aircraft that crash-landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport a few weeks ago.

Those charged are Aubrey Frank, 30, of Kuru-Kuru, Linden/Soesdyke Highway; Jamie Kingston, 30, of Durban Street, Lodge; Royden Kennedy, 27, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Collis Williams, 37, of Coverden, EBD. They appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Particulars of the charge stated that on November 9, 2018 at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, Aubrey Frank, Jamie Kingston and Royden Kennedy had in their possession a $30,000 Tablet, a $4,000 Samsung charger, a $20,000 perfume and other items suspected to be stolen or unlawfully obtained.

The men denied the charge that was read out to them by the magistrate. They were represented by Attorneys-at-law Clyde Forde, Eusi Anderson and George Thomas, who all made bail application. Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail due to the seriousness of the offence and the circumstances under which the offence was committed.
Meanwhile, Collis Williams was placed on a separate charge; his charge alleged that on the same day at the same location, he stole one I phone valued $75,000 and one Samsung phone valued $76,000. The father of four denied the charge that was read out to him by the magistrate. Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield again objected to bail due to the seriousness of the offence.

However, Williams and the other three defendants were released on $100,000 bail each by the magistrate on conditions that they lodge their passports and report to the Providence Police Station every Friday. The matter was adjourned to December 13, 2018.

The Ministry of the Presidency had said in a statement that both Cabinet and the National Security Committee (NSC) were briefed on the incident involving the Fly Jamaica flight OJ256. During the emergency operations that followed the emergency landing, members of the GFS rushed to the scene. After the mop-up, some personal items belonging to crew members and some passengers were discovered missing. “Cabinet strongly condemn as criminal and morally corrupt, those alleged acts of theft, and urge that the perpetrators be brought to swift justice,” the statement read. It added: “It must be noted that not only did the accused cast a blemish on the reputation of the disciplined services, but they have tarnished Guyana’s image.”