Club owner robbed of $12,000

THE STATE has closed its case against a Fyzabad labourer on trial in the San Fernando High Court for robbing a club owner at gunpoint of $12,000 cash and a gold chain.

Yesterday, State attorney Brambhanan Dubay called the State’s fifth and final witness, PC Chanardath Sookdeo, to testify against Colin Villafana. Villafana, 23, of Avocat Village, Fyzabad, is charged with robbery with aggravation against Hayden Brandt of Big Eaters Club at Fyzabad. The case is before Justice Rajendra Narine and a nine-member jury, with Roger Ramgoolam representing Villafana.

PC Sookdeo said on September 25, 1999, he was on duty at the Fyzabad Police Station at around 4.30 am. Brandt came into the station and reported that two men held him up in the car park of his club and robbed him of the night’s sales and a gold chain. Brandt’s employees, Linda Charles and Rosalina Seeramsingh, who were present during the robbery, accompanied him to the station. Sookdeo said Brandt described the accused as “a short rasta with a red and white jersey.” He told the court he accompanied the club owner to the scene of the crime, where he made observations.

He said the next morning Cpl Gay introduced him to the accused at the police station. Sookdeo said he told Villafana of the report made by Brandt, and the accused remained silent. The police executed warrants at Happy Hill, Siparia and Fyzabad for arms and ammunition, but nothing was found. Neither the $12,000 nor jewelry was retrieved, Sookdeo said.