HAMZA Samuels called ‘Bad Coolie’, 22, and Emmanuel Hale, 18, both of ‘D’ Field Sophia, were remanded to prison after being charged with three counts of robbery under arms and kidnapping.

They were both arrested on August 18, 2022, by the police and were charged jointly on Monday.
The duo appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court via Skype before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool where the charges were read to them. They pleaded not guilty and were remanded to prison until October 7, 2022.

The two were among four men who were arrested last Thursday after allegedly kidnapping a taxi driver, stealing his car, and shooting at police officers.
The duo’s alleged accomplices Rawle Franklyn and Andrew Newyear were found with injuries immediately after the stolen car they were travelling in was intercepted.

Police had said in a press release that an anonymous caller reported to the Brickdam Operations room that motorcar PSS 2705 — a white Toyota Allion motorcar — with persons inside, had robbed someone on Lamaha Street, Georgetown.

Anti-crime patrols were then alerted. “One of the patrols observed the motorcar driving along the Agricola Access Road. As motorcar PSS 2705 reached the Two Brothers Gas Station, it proceeded south on the Public Road. The Anti-crime [sic] patrol subsequently attempted to intercept the vehicle but the driver drove away causing the Anti-Crime Patrol to continue to pursue the driver and occupants,” the police report stated.

Police noted that the car was driving at a fast rate when it turned on Hunter Street and approached Mandela Avenue. The driver lost control and collided with the northern barriers, causing damage to the said vehicle.

The police statement said that police officers from the Anti-Crime Patrol then observed four male suspects exiting the motorcar. The report further said the men attempted to run from the scene.

“Immediately thereafter, loud explosions, suspected to be gunshots, were heard coming from the direction where the suspects were running, thereby causing a rank to discharge a round in the said direction where the suspected gunshots were coming from. Other anti-crime patrols arrived shortly after to give support and a search was conducted in the area where the suspects were seen running and suspected gunshots were heard. Rawle Franklyn, a known character to the police, was seen lying on the northern parapet bleeding from injuries, while his accomplice, Andrew Newyear, was seen lying in a yard with injuries. Further, the two other suspects were found by ranks of the Anti-Crime Patrol hiding in a yard. The police also recovered a 9MM pistol along with a magazine containing three live 9MM rounds,” it added.

According to the police, Franklin and Newyear were escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) to receive medical attention.

Additionally, ranks from the anti-crime patrol, whilst searching the motorcar, discovered Joshua Singh locked in the trunk of the car. He related to ranks that he was at Shamo Taxi Base on Vryheid’s Lust Railway Embankment, ECD, working his uncle’s motorcar. While he was seated in the driver’s seat of the said car, he was approached by three of the suspects, one of whom pointed a gun at him and ordered him out of the car.

Out of fear he complied and climbed into the trunk.
The police recovered eight cellular phones, one laptop computer, and a female purse from the car.