‘Swimming bandit’ denied bail

The 22-year-old main suspect in the $50,000 bank robbery at the Couva branch of First Citizens Bank, who was snatched from the sea at Macqueripe on Sunday by Coast Guard officers, was denied bail when he appeared before Couva Magistrate Gillian David yesterday.  The matter was adjourned to next Monday.

Azukah Moyo, of Frederick Street, Marabella, appeared stern-faced when the charges of two counts of robbery with aggravation and one count of wounding Supt Spencer Farrel were read out to him. Magistrate David refused bail on the grounds that she wanted Moyo traced and his criminal record made known to her. As he was being led away, Moyo, who was unrepresented in court, waved to his relatives who were outside the courtroom. Moyo’s 19-year-old brother Minkah Moyo has already been charged with the same offences and he too was denied bail when he appeared in court on Friday. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a third man. Azukah was pointed out by three persons, including Supt Farrel, during an identification parade held on Monday at the Chaguanas Police Station. The charges were laid by Ag Sgt Noel Corbette of the Couva CID.

The two were arrested pending inquiries into the $50,000 robbery at the bank. Up until yesterday none of the money was recovered. Police officers under Ag Sgt Corbette carried out enquiries and held the first suspect. The second man was held on Sunday when he went for a swim at the Macqueripe beach and was spotted by an off-duty police officer. 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.