Suspect in Celltronicx Store robbery released on station bail

…72-hour detention period expired

The suspect who was apprehended and questioned in connection with an armed robbery on the Celltronicx Store at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been released on station bail.

Regional Police Commander, Assistant Police Commissioner (Demerara-Mahaica) Royston Andries-Junior explained that after the suspect was arrested and evidence was gathered, a file was sent to the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The DPP, he noted, took some time to return the file, and due to the fact that the suspect’s 72-hour

detention period had expired – Police were forced to release him on station bail.
Initially, the station bail was $150,000, but the suspect could not afford that amount. This prompted lawmen to drop the total to $100,000, but still, the suspect was unable to reach that threshold.
It was finally reduced to $50,000, which he was able to pay.
The file from the DPP was returned, requesting investigators to do some additional investigation.
It was reported that on July 3, 2020, the suspect and his accomplice entered the cellphone store, pretending to be customers.
As one of the staff was about to assist them, one of the men whipped out a handgun, demanding that the staff remain quiet. The suspect then held the female staff at gunpoint, while escorting her further into the store.
The female employee, along with a male employee, were later placed on the floor and gun-butted as one of the bandits entered the office.
In Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage, the suspects were seen emptying a glass case that was filled with cellphones.
In a subsequent interview, Imran Ali, owner of the store, told reporters that the men escaped with over 20 cellular phones and about $1 million in cases. The other suspect is currently on the run.