Four men were on Thursday jointly charged with robbery under arms and remanded to prison.
The accused — 22-year-old Tuireece Gonsalves of Broad Street, Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; 28-year-old Travis Crandon of Timmers Dam, Angoy’s Avenue; 29-year-old Philmon Moriah of Lot 357, Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corriverton; and 37-year-old Terrence Whyte of the same address — appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy.
They are alleged to have been in each other’s company on 24 May 2026, when they reportedly used a firearm to rob businessman Mahesh Sukhoo of cash, jewellery and other valuables amounting to approximately $2.8 million.
Attorney-at-law Vinay Punwa, who represented Philmon Moriah and Travis Crandon, applied for bail.
In Moriah’s case, the attorney told the court that his client is the father of a one-year-old child who depends on him and has no previous matters before the courts. Punwa argued that the prosecution had presented no evidence directly linking Moriah to the robbery, except that he was later seen riding a motorcycle suspected of being used in the crime.
The lawyer further noted that the motorcycle was allegedly used by Moriah on a date after the robbery occurred and that no stolen property was recovered from his residence. He also informed the court that Moriah bore several marks of violence, including what he described as shock marks and bruises, which were shown to the magistrate. Punwa subsequently pleaded for reasonable bail.
The prosecution objected, contending that co-accused Travis Crandon had provided a statement implicating Moriah and that eyewitnesses had placed him at the scene of the robbery.
However, Punwa argued that, in law, a statement from one accused cannot be used as evidence against another accused person, and again urged the court to grant bail.
After hearing submissions from both sides, bail was refused for all four defendants, with the court stating that the issue would be revisited after disclosure of the prosecution’s evidence.
However, the prosecution informed the court that its file remains incomplete and requested six weeks to complete disclosure.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to 9 July 2026 for disclosure.
Meanwhile, the court heard that Crandon is facing several other criminal charges and has reportedly confessed to three of them.
Prosecutor Sergeant Fiona Simpson further disclosed that he was scheduled to appear before the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court later the same day on another similar matter, and that several additional matters remain pending against him.
However, Magistrate Hardy refused bail, and all four accused were remanded to prison.
Police reported that at approximately 5:00 p.m. on 24 May, Sukhoo had left his home wearing two gold chains and a gold hand band and was carrying approximately $8,000 in cash along with his vehicle keys when he was confronted and robbed by the suspects, who then escaped on a motorcycle.
Police said that, acting on information allegedly provided by Crandon, ranks conducted a search at his New Amsterdam residence, where a quantity of ammunition was reportedly discovered.
During questioning, Crandon admitted involvement in the robbery and identified several alleged accomplices, leading to their arrests.
