Ex-cop granted bail on armed robbery charge

Ex-Policeman Joel Semple, who was previously charged with armed robbery, is back in court for the same offence.
The 27-year-old resident of Samatta Point, Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) has been arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrates’ Courts on a charge detailing that,
on November 1, at Friendship, EBD, while armed with a gun, he robbed food vendor Denisa Sumir of $75,000, property of Azeez Burger.
In a video of the incident, a car was seen stopping in front of the food stall. A man exited the vehicle, walked up to the stall, and held the complainant at gunpoint before relieving her of the cash. The man then jumped into the vehicle and it sped off.

Semple has denied the charge, and has been placed on $100,000 bail. He has to return to court on December 12 to collect statements.
On October 13, 2020, Semple and two other men were charged for allegedly robbing pedal cyclist Demendra Yussuff of $18,0000 while Semple had been dressed in Police uniform at De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Based on reports, Semple was decked out in Police uniform and was sitting in the front passenger seat of a white motorcar that pulled up alongside Yussuff, who was riding his bicycle.
Semple reportedly instructed Yussuff to pull over. Yussuff obeyed because he thought that Semple was an on-duty Police officer. The pedal cyclist was asked why he was not wearing a face mask, and was questioned about the contents of his pockets. When Yussuff told Semple that he only had cash, Semple demanded that he take out the money and place it on the bicycle seat.
One of Semple’s accomplices had then confiscated Yussuff’s cell phone, and at that point the complainant became suspicious and snapped a photograph of the vehicle that had pulled up alongside him. He later reported the matter to the Police, and Semple and his accomplices were subsequently apprehended at Estate Road in Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD).
During his time in the Guyana Police Force, Semple had been stationed at the Brickdam Police Station, and had worked as an orderly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. (G1)