Lethem cops charged with armed robbery of Brazilian national

Two serving members of the Guyana Police Force appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan Tuesday accused of robbing a Brazilian national.

Sherwayne Spiers, 21 of Parika, East Bank Essequibo and Daniel Kellman, 25 of McKenzie, Linden pleaded not guilty to the joint charge of armed robbery.

It is alleged that on February 20, 2019, at the Takutu Bridge, Central Lethem, Region 9, the two officers, while being armed with weapons, robbed Ronaldo Ferreira of a BLU cellphone worth $38,000 and BRL$20 equivalent to GYD $1,200.

The duo was represented by Attorney-at-law, Jerome Khan.

“Why must these fine young men ruin their careers for an old beat up cellphone?” Khan said as he argued for his clients to be released on self-bail.

The Attorney explained that both his clients, during the time in question, were stationed at the Lethem Police Station and were posted at the Takutu bridge.

“This is an area where gangsters lurk and also members of the sindicatos [gang],” the Attorney argued.

According to the defence lawyer, the two officers saw Ferreira in the area and identified themselves, however, there was a miscommunication as the man does not speak English.

The court heard that the cops searched Ferreira and allegedly found a quantity of narcotics in his possession.

However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, the two defendants were issued their service weapons and were posted to the Lethem Municipal Compound.

However, the two officers left their post and went to the Takutu Bridge, 300 meters away where it is alleged that they held the victim at gunpoint, ordered him to lie on the ground and robbed him.

Ferreira managed to escape after the robbery and reported the matter to the Lethem Police Station.

Spiers and Kellman were contacted and searched; the stolen items were found in their possession.

The Chief Magistrate released the duo on $100,000 bail each and ordered them to report to the Lethem Police Station every Friday.

The matter was transferred to the Lethem Magistrate’s Court for March 5, 2019.