Alleged bank robber says he is innocent of indictable charge

Another man has been charged in connection with last month’s robbery at the Wildey branch of CIBC First Caribbean International Bank.

Teriq Kaareem Linton, of Cherry Avenue, Lower Burney, St Michael is the third person to be charged by police in connection with the incident. Unlike his co-accused, Linton was remanded to HMP Dodds following a failed application for bail before Magistrate Manila Renee.

Linton, 23, a bar manager, is charged that on May 13 he robbed Patrice Springer of $13 580 belonging to the bank. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court when he made his first appearance today.

Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons objected to his bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact the complainant was still receiving treatment. The police prosecutor also informed the court of the strength of the evidence against the accused stating that there was video footage involved.

“This incident has attracted the attention of persons in Barbados and it is of public interest,” said the prosecutor who added that Linton needed to be protected from himself and society from him.

Gibbons also submitted to the court that the accused should not be granted bail at this time given that he was already on bail for kidnapping and burglary charges. He further revealed that in July last year Linton was also given a chance when a magistrate reprimanded and discharged him of charges of burglary, loitering and going equipped.

In his application for bail Linton maintained his innocence in the robbery of the financial institution.

He said: “Today I am before the court accused of the offence of robbing Ms Patrice Springer of $13 580 from the CIBC First Caribbean Bank. This is a matter that has been highly published around the island whereas a man disguised himself as a woman and entered the premises of the bank to commit robbery.”

The accused pointed out that there were two other co-accused in the matter who had been granted bail.

“I am co-accused with two other persons who were granted bail and one of those persons while I was in police custody, I was told by police that one of these individuals actually made an admission statement saying indeed it was him who entered the bank disguised as a female. That said person made statements to implicate myself and the other accused in said offence.

“I maintain my innocence throughout the entire investigation,” Linton declared.

He admitted to having two pending cases before the court but argued that the allegations stemmed from 2019 and he had yet to receive disclosure in the matter.

“It is true that last year I did get into some trouble and I was released and since then I have rehabilitated myself. I am working and I use the funds that I am making legally . . . . to further my education to enroll myself into the University of the West Indies. I am currently working on achieving my bachelors in fine arts,” said the father of a one-year-old baby boy. He said he was also the sole breadwinner for his family.

“I have never missed a court date, I always comply with my bail conditions. The circumstances of which I was charged I hand myself into custody and was beaten and tortured by police and I had to be freed on a habeas corpus. Because after four days the police could not produce any evidence to charge me with,” he claimed, adding that he was subsequently charged.

“An individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This matter before you now, I maintain my innocence and the evidence in this matter is very, very weak against myself,” Linton added.

After considering the submissions Magistrate Renee ruled in favour of the prosecution and remanded the accused to Dodds until July 23.

Earlier this week Tremaine Alexander Beckles, 22, of Lower Burney, St Michael and Daniel Elijah MacArthur Severin, 24, of Lower Burney, Mapp Hill, St Michael were each granted $5 000 bail, with one surety each in connection to the robbery.

As part of their bail conditions the two must report to District ‘A’ Police Station every Friday before 6 p.m. with valid identification.