Fake number plate lands Lusignan man in jail

Elroy Livan, a Lusignan, East Coast Demerara man, was on Thursday morning slapped with a one-year jail term and fined million after Magistrate Annette Singh concluded that he was guilty of fraudulently imitating an identification mark.

The court found that Livan fraudulently imitated identification mark HB 7412 on a registered motor car with number HC 7294 on November 14, 2016. The accused, along with two others (ex-cop Devon Chase and Frederick Boyce), was captured by Police during a high-speed chase late last year at Lamaha and Republic Streets, Newtown, Georgetown. The men were shortly after arraigned before the courts where they were jointly charged with armed robbery. Additionally, they were charged for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The former Policeman was jailed for four years and fined $60,000, after he pleaded guilty at first instance to the charge of gun and ammo possession, contending that he kept the weapon for protection purposes as he was an ex-cop. His counterparts entered not-guilty pleas and were remanded.

Reports are the charge of robbery under arms was subsequently dismissed against Livan, and the firearm/ammo matter was also withdrawn.

During the trial, the court was told that on the day of the incident, Police received a report that some men were planning to rob a gas station. Shortly thereafter, a heavily-tinted car matching the given description was spotted by ranks and the driver of the car upon spotting the Police vehicle accelerated, leading Police on a high-speed chase around Georgetown.

The pursuit ended after the car came to a halt in a ditch, reportedly skidding off the road into the nearby trench. The trio then exited the vehicle, and a search conducted by ranks led to the discovery of a 9mm Taurus pistol and 10 live rounds under the dashboard opposite the front passenger seat.