Fish vendor charged with $28M armed robbery

A 25-year-old fish vendor was remanded to prison on Monday in connection with a $28M armed robbery committed on a Chinese National; he was also slapped with two firearm related charges.

Mervin Blackman of Daisy Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court for the armed robbery charge.

It is alleged that on May 20,2017 at Craig, East Bank Demerara, while being armed with a handgun, he robbed Dai Zhung of a minibus valued $2.3M, a quantity of fish glue valued $25M, three cell phones and $500,000 cash-all totaling $28,780,000.

The unrepresented man was not required to plead to the charge; Prosecutor Harris informed the court that three other persons were also arrested and placed before the court in the said armed robbery charge. He further pointed out that the four men will be jointly charged soon.

Magistrate Daly remanded Blackman until August 28, 2017. Meanwhile, Blackman appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman Monday morning for the firearm and ammunition possession charges.

Particulars of the charge alleged that on August 8, 2017 at South Ruimveldt, Blackman had a 9mm pistol in his possession when he is not a license firearm holder. It is further alleged that Blackman had 7 live 9mm rounds of ammunition in his possession. He denied both charges.

Police prosecutor, Shawn Gonsalves objected to Blackman being granted bail on the grounds that he was out on bail for an armed robbery charge which is currently ongoing before another City Magistrate.