One faints as four appear in court for series of robberies

CHARGED: L-R: Garfield Gray, Gavin Durant and John Simon

It was a dramatic court appearance on Monday for four men in Berbice who were dragged before the courts for a series of robberies when one of them fainted during his court appearance.

The police in Region 6 managed to crack the robbery ring which was wreaking havoc on the lives and homes and homes of residents across the Corentyne coast.

John Simon

34-year-old John Simon, 33-Year-old Gavin Durant, 50-year-old Garfield Grey, and 30-year-old Charlie Fraser were hauled before the Whim Magistrate Court Monday morning where they were each slapped with seven charges each for robberies committed in the communities of Letter Kenny, Port Mourant, Bloomfield, Nurney and Alness.

Fraser and Grey were both placed on $350,000 bail; $50,000 on each of the 7 counts meanwhile Durant was placed on $100,000 bail for each count and Simon was granted bail in the sum of $950,000.

Garfield Gray

The drama was one to see for yourself as when John Simon fainted while the appearing before Magistrate Renita Singh. His mother later informed this publication that he had to be rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital as he was also frothing.

The man’s mother said she was not worried that her son had to face the law for his transgressions but said that she was furious about the treatment he received even as she alleged that he was beaten during his arrest.

Gavin Durant

“When he faint and the ambulance come, they didn’t even take no care. They throw him in the ambulance like if he done dead already; like a hog” the man’s mother angrily noted

The wife of Durant was upset that the police held onto the mobile phone and cash her husband had on his person when he was arrested. She said that the police told her the items would be lodged as evidence.

Garfield Gray, a third accused who was freed after paying off his bail money stated that he was picked up unknowingly about a week ago and spent almost 7 days in the lockups.

“They put a bag over my head; spray baygone on me and told me that I have a gun. They tell me some boy confess that I does give them gun to go and rob, but I deny and then they give me 7 robbery charge,” he stated.

 The men are expected to return to court on June 26th