‘Swimming’ Bandit fingered in ID parade

THE 22-year-old main suspect in last week’s $50,000 robbery at the Couva branch of First Citizens Bank, who was arrested at Macqueripe Beach on Sunday afternoon, was pointed out by three persons during an identification parade held yesterday at the Chaguanas Police Station.

The man was handed over to Ag Sgt Noel Corbette and charged with robbery. He will appear before a Couva Magistrate today. Yesterday, relatives of the man went to the Chaguanas Police Station and provided the man with clothes. He was allowed to change into the clothing for the ID parade. A warrant for the arrest of a third suspect in the daring bank robbery has already been issued. The suspect was held on Sunday when he went for a swim and was spotted by police.

In trying to make his escape, he dove into the sea and swam away. His escape was short-lived as he was picked up by a Coast Guard patrol and handed over to the police. A 19-year-old man has already been charged with the robbery. Last Tuesday, around 1 pm, three men in orange coloured jumpers walked into the FCB branch at Couva, jumped over the counter and held up three cashiers. They then ordered the cashiers to hand over more than $50,000 in cash. Supt Farrel, who was sitting in his car outside the bank, drew his firearm to stop the bandits but instead shot himself in the right hand. A surveillance camera at the bank recorded the entire robbery and the faces of the bandits were clearly seen. Police officers were able to identify the suspects, whom they described as “career bandits.”