Almost two weeks after PriceSmart's Mausica branch was robbed of over $1.5 million in cash, the store's assistant manager appeared in court yesterday charged with the crime.
Kerlon Smith, 33, of Eventide Court, Trincity, was denied bail and remanded into custody after appearing before Magistrate Debby-Ann Bassaw charged with the robbery.
Minutes after Smith's appearance, another man, Clinton John, 22, of Prizgar Road, San Juan, was charged with receiving a cell phone which was stolen during the robbery.
Like Smith, John's criminal record tracing had not been processed at the time of his appearance, forcing Bassaw to remand him into custody as well. Smith is expected to re-apply for bail when he reappears in court on Monday. John will reappear the day after.
A press release issued by the T&T Police Service yesterday evening said more arrests are expected in connection with the robbery.
"Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Senior Supt Radcliff Boxhill, states that while two persons have thus far been charged in connection with the robbery, other suspects are still at large and therefore the investigation remains active," the release said.
According to reports, around 11 pm on July 3, three armed men entered the store after it had closed that evening. The men barged into a meeting of senior staff and forced them to lead them to the store's safe.
The cash was placed in several bags and the men fled the scene without firing a gunshot. Although an all-points bulletin was issued by police and road blocks set up after the robbery no one was arrested.
Smith and John were arrested on Thursday after an intense investigation by police officers from several specialised units including the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) and the Northern Division CID.
Insp Mark Maharaj and Sgt Clifton Thomas are continuing investigations.