Four men were remanded to prison on Thursday after appearing before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court to face charges of armed robbery.
The accused are 22-year-old Tuireece Gonsalves and 28-year-old Travis Crandon, both of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; 29-year-old Philmon Moriah and 37-year-old Terrence Whyte, both of Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corriverton.
The charges stem from an incident on May 24, 2026, when 31-year-old Mahesh Sukhoo was socialising near the Scottsburg playground in Corriverton. According to police reports, Sukhoo was approached by two men on a motorcycle. One of the assailants, reportedly armed with a cutlass, forced the victim to the ground before robbing him of two gold chains, a gold bracelet—collectively valued at $2.8 million—and $8,000 in cash, along with his vehicle keys.
During the arraignment, Prosecutor Sergeant Fiona Simpson strongly opposed bail for the defendants. She noted that Travis Crandon had provided a statement to police implicating Philmon Moriah, and that eyewitnesses had reportedly identified Moriah at the scene. Furthermore, the court was informed that Crandon has similar matters pending before the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.
The investigation led to the arrest of Crandon, who police say admitted to his role in the robbery and identified an accomplice. A search of Crandon’s New Amsterdam home subsequently yielded a quantity of ammunition. Additionally, police recovered four pieces of gold jewelry from the possession of Terrence Whyte.
Attorney-at-law Vinay Punwa, representing Moriah and Crandon, challenged the strength of the prosecution’s evidence against Moriah. Counsel argued that Moriah was only seen riding a motorcycle after the crime had occurred and noted that no stolen items were found at his home. The defense also presented evidence of physical injuries, including bruises and “shock marks,” allegedly sustained by Moriah while in custody.
Despite these arguments, Magistrate Hardy denied bail for all four defendants, citing the seriousness of the offence and the ongoing nature of the investigation. The men will remain in custody until their next court appearance on July 9, 2026, for the disclosure of evidence.
