| Twenty-year-old Dwayne Harris, called “Buckman”, of Aubrey Barker Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown,Jordans Clearance, was on Monday jailed for five years by Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court when he pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery under arms.Harris, who was implicated in the Geddes Grant robbery which occurred at Strand, New Amsterdam, Berbice on April 2, 2009, was previously sentenced to 10 years in jail on two charges of unlawful possession of arms and ammunition. The sentences will run concurrently.According to the prosecution, on the day in question at around 17:20 hrs, Harris, while armed with a handgun, rode up on a bicycle and accosted a store clerk, Jacqueline Rambali and a security guard, and robbed them of $1,325,740 as they were leaving the store to make a deposit at the Republic Bank, New Amsterdam branch opposite the business place.The bandit fired a shot which narrowly missed the guard before taking away the money which was in two safety deposit bags. He then fled on a bicycle which he dropped after seeing a van belonging to the GEB Security Service. The police were summoned and responded promptly. At the same time, Harris was heading towards a car which was parked not too far away and which was suspected to be the getaway vehicle.Upon seeing the police, Harris dropped the gun and changed course jumping several fences and running through yards in an escape bid. However he was cornered in a yard and apprehended.Two other persons who were charged in connection with the same incident have been freed. |
