Three vendors charged in $22M jewellery theft at L. Seepersaud Maraj and Sons

Three men were on Friday morning remanded to prison for breaking into the L. Seepersaud Maraj & Sons jewellery store the Stabroek Market and carting off $22M worth in gold and diamond jewellery.

Those charged are Clifford Rodney, 66, of One Mile, Linden; Albert Defreitas, 54, of Leopold Street, Georgetown; and Tyron Marks, 31 of Eccles, East Bank Demerara. The men are all vendors at the Stabroek Market and were jointly charged with break and enter with larceny.

The court heard that the trio, between July 2-3, 2018 broke and entered the jewellery store, located under the Stabroek Market clock, and stole the jewellery. The men were not required to plea to the indictable charge when it was read by the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan.

Rodney, Defreitas and Marks were represented by attorney Pamela DaSantos, Kenzia Williams and Adrian Thompson, respectively.

The lawyers, during their application for bail, claimed that the defendants were beaten by the police to confess to the charge.

Attorney DaSantos told the court that Rodney and his co-accused conduct business together and that the police have video footage with all three of the accused staying at a city hotel together.

Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers objected to the three men being released on bail on the grounds that they all have pending matters of similar nature before the court.

Jeffers added that Rodney admitted to cutting into the safe while Defreitas admitted to assisting him during a video interrogation with investigators.

The Chief Magistrate after listening to both sides remanded the men to prison until July 23.