THREE policemen were on Wednesday granted bail at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court after they were charged with demanding money with menace from three Venezuelan women.

The cops appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann MC Lennan and were charged with  three counts of demanding with menace.

The men 34-year-old, Ceon Jones of 434 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara, Tevin Estriado, a 26-year old of Lot 41 Farm, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara and 30-year-old, Corwyn Mingo of Lot 188 Section C’ Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, all pleaded not guilty to the charges read.

Particulars of the first charge alleged that between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018 at Makari Top, Essequibo, they demanded 6 penny weight of raw gold from one of the women valued $63,000 with intent to steal.

The second charge alleged that on the same day at Makari Top Essequibo, the three men also demanded 6 pennyweight of raw gold another woman valued $63,000 with intent to steal.

The third charge stated that between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2018 at Makari Top, Essequibo, they demanded 3 penny weight of raw gold from another woman,valued $31,000, with intent to steal.

Mingo’s attorney made an application for bail on behalf of his client.

In the court today, the police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield contended that during the month of June 2018, the force was conducting investigations into a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) matter. It was during this said period that the police ranks, who were reportedly stationed at the Issano Police Station, were identified as persons who demanded money from the three women.

The men allegedly committed the act during a stop and search operation at the Makari Top, where they allegedly demanded a quantity of money and the women subsequently handed over a total of 15 penny weight of raw gold valued $ 157,000.

After listening to the submissions made by the prosecutor, the Chief Magistrate granted them bail at the sum $30,000 each. They will make their next appearance at the Bartica Magistrates’ Court on May 16, 2019. (Deneita Fredericks)