By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Saturday, August 11 2012

SPECIAL reserve police officer ( SRP) Angus Ramsundarsingh appeared in Princes Town Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with six offences among them armed robbery of a total of $540,000, shooting at police officers and possession of arms and ammunition. He was granted $350,000 surety bail to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace, to cover all charges.

Ramsundarsingh, 38, appeared before Magistrate Rae Roopchan, in the First Court, and was not called upon to plead to the charges as they were laid indictably.

The magistrate read the charges which alleged that on August 5, at M1 Tasker Road in Princes

Town, Ramsundarsingh had in his possession a firearm and ammunition. The third charge alleges that on the same day at Craignish Village, Princes Town, Ramsundarsingh and other persons, armed with firearms, robbed Michael Norton of $500,000, three ATM cassettes, a Smith and Wesson pistol, six rounds of ammunition and a bag.

Roopchan read the fourth and fifth charges which allege that on August 5, at M1 Tasker Road, Princes Town, Ramsundarsingh and other persons shot at PCs Brent Cabrera and Shanon Ali with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The sixth charge alleges Ramsundarsingh and others, armed with firearms, robbed Chan Seepersad of $40,000 at Craignish Village, Princes Town on the same day. Detective PC Dookie of the Princes Town Police Station laid the charges.

As the magistrate read out the charges, the SRP officer stood with his hands behind his back. He was represented by Richard Valere and Wilston Campbell. Valere told the magistrate his client is family-oriented and has four children, the youngest being six months old. Valere informed Roopchan that Ramsundarsingh was a member of the TT Police Service for the past six years. The attorney asked the court to be magnanimous and requested reasonable bail for the accused.

Prosecutor WPC Stacy Chance objected to bail on the basis of the serious nature of the offences in which firearms were allegedly used.

Looking at documents before him, Roopchan noted bail must reflect the seriousness of the allegations. The magistrate said the accused had two addresses, one at Harriman Park, Point Fortin and the other at South Oropouche.

Valere explained Ramsundarsingh’s father lives in Point Fortin but the accused has been in a common-law relationship in South Oropouche for the past six years.

The magistrate granted $350,000 bail with two sureties to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace. Roopchan also ordered the accused to surrender his passport to a Clerk of the Peace. As a condition of the bail, the magistrate also ordered the accused to report to the South Oropouche Police Station on Mondays and Fridays between am to 6 pm, effective from Monday.

But before the magistrate postponed the case to September 7, Valere requested proper security for his client in the event he is unable to secure a bailor. He added Ramsundarsingh last worked escorting prisoners. The attorney said Ramsundarsingh gave a statement to police investigators but not of his own free will. As such, he wanted disclosure.

However Chance noted police had no authority over the prison service and transportation. She promised to relay the message to the prison authorities. After the case was called, police officers escorted Ramsundarsingh out of the courtroom. Up to 5 pm, Ramsundarsingh remained in custody, unable to secure a bailor.