by Linda Straker
- First appearance St George’s No. 2 Magistrate Court, without legal counsel
- Robbery with violence carries a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment
The 5 men from Tobago who robbed the Carriacou branch of the Grenada Co-operative Bank on Monday, 18 October 2021, were remanded to prison after making a first appearance in court for violating sections of the Criminal Code and the Public Health Regulations.
Each man faces 3 counts of robbery with violence, entering the State without the consent of an immigration officer, and failing to present themselves to a government-approved quarantine facility.
Inspector Trevor Rodney, Head of the Community Relations Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) said, “This investigation is ongoing and other charges will be brought against them in the future” though he refused to provide clear answers about the investigation.
“Because the investigation is ongoing there is information that we cannot divulge at this moment,” he told journalists gathered outside of the St George’s No. 2 Magistrate Court to learn the outcome of the men’s first appearance in Court.
He did point out that the offence of robbery with violence is an indictable offence that carries a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment under Grenada law.
“A person who commits the offence of robbery, being armed with any offensive instrument, or having made any preparation for using force or causing harm, is liable on conviction on indictment to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 30 years, and, in the discretion of the court, to flogging,” according to Section 276 of the Criminal Code which was updated in 2012.
The names of the 5 accused are Jabari Roach, a 25-year-old air conditioning technician; Allan Melville a 28-year-old vendor; Akeem John a 32-year-old painter; Nashawn Scotland a 29 -year-old Mechanic and Keon Dick a 36-year-old fisherman, who is also the captain of the boat. They did not have legal counsel and are due to return to court on Wednesday, 3 November 2021.
Two of the men reportedly entered the bank wearing masks and armed with guns, and demanded cash from 3 tellers. Videos circulating on social media have shown the men running away from the bank displaying cash and what appears to be money bags. They then fled the scene via boat but were caught by the Grenada Coast Guard in Grenada’s marine space.