March 13 2019
A Sophia resident was yesterday remanded to prison after he was charged with a total of five offences stemming from Saturday night’s armed robbery of a Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo family in which over $4 million in cash, jewellery and other items were stolen.
Kellon Thom, 32, appeared before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.
He was charged with three counts of armed robbery as well as illegal possession of a firearm and illegal possession of ammunition.
Thom was not required to plead to the indictable charges and bail was refused.
The matter was adjourn-ed until April 1st.
Mohan Persaud, a large-scale fish vendor, and his wife, Jennifer Persaud, were at their McWatt Street, Vergenoegen home with their children when two men and a woman, who were all armed with handguns, attacked around 7.30 pm on Saturda
The attack lasted for half an hour and during that time the bandits terrorised the family and threatened to kill the couple’s youngest son.
One gun-butted Mohan to his face, while the two others physically assaulted his wife and daughter as they demanded cash and jewellery.
They later made good their escape with over $4 million dollars in cash, jewellery and electronics.
Mohan had said following the ordeal, he called 911 twice but the calls went unanswered. After-ward, he called a cousin, who is a policeman, and the man summoned police to the scene.
Thom was arrested after the vehicle that is believed to have been used to transport the bandits was intercepted on the West Coast of Demerara, shortly after the attack on Saturday night.
He was the lone occupant at the time.
An unlicensed pistol and six live rounds were also found in his possession.
Divisional Commander Edmond Cooper previously told Stabroek News that the ammunition found in the car matched one of the spent shells that was recovered in close proximity to the scene of the crime.
Also recovered were G$269,000 and CDN$120.
The police are currently on the hunt for a man, suspected to be the mastermind in the crime.
