Serial bandit arraigned on 10 charges, remanded to prison

Last Updated on Thursday, 1 September 2016, 21:46 by Denis Chabrol

Robbery accused, Shemroy Hackett leaving the Vigilance Magistrates’ Court after he was arraigned for several robbery and related offences.

A man, who police labeled a “serial bandit” and gang member, was Thursday arraigned for 10 robbery and robbery-related offences that he allegedly committed in two months.

Twenty-seven year old Shemroy Hackett’s appearance in court followed his arrest in his home village of Bare Root, East Coast Demerara shortly after he and four others had allegedly robbed a grocer at Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

Vigilance Magistrate, Zamilla Ally-Seepaul refused bail and ordered that he attend three different courts on several dates depending on where the offences have been committed. Offences allegedly committed closer to Cove And John were adjourned until October 19, 2016; those allegedly perpetrated near Vigilance were adjourned to September 30 and the others that were allegedly committed near Sparendaam have been adjourned to October 13, 2016.

Hackett of Bare Root, East Coast Demerara was remanded to prison. Police Proecutor, Sherlock King opposed bail because the accused would continue to commit more offences if he is granted his pretrial liberty.

In the incident allegedly committed on the grocer on August 29, 2016 police said Hackett, being armed with a shotgun, robbed Hamid Ameer Ramlagan if GYD$3 million, one .32 Taurus pistol valued GYD$180,000, 15 rounds of .32 ammunition valued GYD$3,000, a quantity of gold jewellery and  Digital Video Recording (DVR) system. Police further alleged that on the same day, the accused was in possession of one 9MM pistol and 12 matching rounds without being the holder of a firearm license.

The prosecution further alleged that five days earlier on August 24, 2016 at Vryheid’ss Lust, East Coast Demerara, Hackett, in the company of others  and armed with a gun, robbed Elizabeth Lindy of GYD$360,000 property of Cho-Fei and one cellular phone property of Lindy. He also is accused of robbing Kizzian Windsor of one cellular phone worth GYD$50,000, and one cellular phone worth GYD$29,000 from Sherman Persaud.

Court documents state that on July 1, 2016, Hackett, in the company of others and armed with a shotgun,robbed Xie-Thi-Fang of one iPhone 6, a quantity of Digicel and GT&T phone cards and GYD$120,000 with a total value of GYD$380,000.

Further, police said that on July 7, 2016 Hackett discharged a loaded firearm intent to maim disfigure, disable or cause grevious bodily harm at Lance Corporal Hilton Benjamin and Police Constable Mavin Richards, peace officers who were executing their duties duties at Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara. He allegedly opened fire after robbing Chen-Bi-Fen at gun point of items worth GYD$85,000 at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara.

Hackett pleaded not guilty to allegedly being in possession of a pistol and matching rounds.