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Danzil Clarke Was Clueless - Man Who Robbed Bunting's Friends Was Unaware Of Who His Victims Were
Published: Monday | April 29, 2013 15 Comments
Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
WHEN EX-CONVICT Danzil Clarke strolled on to the secluded Emerald Forest property in Portland, late afternoon on March 30, he thought the persons he saw enjoying themselves by the poolside were visitors to the island.
The 45-year-old Clarke, who was convicted twice - once in 1999 for aggravated robbery, and again in 2003 for illegal possession of a firearm - was unaware that National Security Minister Peter Bunting, a friend of his and his security team were part of the group of people there. As such, he made the decision to rob the group.
Broke and badly in need of some cash, Clarke had left his home that day, scouting for somebody or someplace to rob to satisfy his monetary needs.
With members of the group not noticing his uninvited presence, Clarke quietly slipped into the group's villa and, on entering a bedroom, was greeted by the sight of a silver chain, a gold chain, an iPhone, a Nokia cellular phone, J$206,000 in cash and an undetermined amount of US and Vietnamese currencies.
While he was busy gathering the valuables, members of the group walked into the villa, but he managed to hide and they subsequently left the building without noticing him.
While he was heading home with the loot, Clarke got a call on one of the stolen cell phones. The female caller, who claimed ownership for the stolen items, offered him US$3,000 to return the items.
Thinking he had nothing to lose, Clarke agreed to the deal, all the time thinking that his victims were visitors to the island. An agreement was struck between Clarke and the caller to make the exchange at Folly Oval, on the outskirts of Port Antonio, approximately 10:30 p.m.
As Clarke was getting ready for the scheduled meeting, he got another call from the female. She told him she could only come up with US$1,800 and pleaded with him to accept that sum for the return of the items. Clarke agreed.
The exchange of money for the items took place as planned. Clarke returned all the stolen items, but was told he could keep the Nokia phone. No attempt was made to arrest him.
On the day following the exchange, Clarke was at home relaxing when a police party, including personnel from the Cybercrime Unit, who had seemingly tracked him down through the Nokia phone, barged in on him. He was promptly arrested.
While Clarke was being processed at the Port Antonio CIB office, the evening news was being aired on a television set in the room. He heard the story about the minister of national security being robbed at the Portland villa. It was then that he realised who his victims actually were.
It could not be ascertained if Bunting was party to or was aware of the transaction between Clarke and the female who made the deal with him.
Clarke was arrested and charged with burglary, inclusive of the items he had returned in the trade-off with the female caller. He was offered the service of a legal-aid lawyer to represent him.
Following the intervention of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the charge against Clarke was changed from burglary to the lesser charge of housebreaking and larceny.
Clarke has since pleaded guilty to the new charges against him, and was ordered fingerprinted in his last court appearance. He is to return to court on May 3 for sentencing.
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Buoy, it tek dem dis amt a time fi come up wid dis story...
n is how juss ONE smaddy now response....ah sah...dis yah story so phoney but di troot is unprintable
Published: Monday | April 29, 2013 15 Comments
Mark Titus, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
WHEN EX-CONVICT Danzil Clarke strolled on to the secluded Emerald Forest property in Portland, late afternoon on March 30, he thought the persons he saw enjoying themselves by the poolside were visitors to the island.
The 45-year-old Clarke, who was convicted twice - once in 1999 for aggravated robbery, and again in 2003 for illegal possession of a firearm - was unaware that National Security Minister Peter Bunting, a friend of his and his security team were part of the group of people there. As such, he made the decision to rob the group.
Broke and badly in need of some cash, Clarke had left his home that day, scouting for somebody or someplace to rob to satisfy his monetary needs.
With members of the group not noticing his uninvited presence, Clarke quietly slipped into the group's villa and, on entering a bedroom, was greeted by the sight of a silver chain, a gold chain, an iPhone, a Nokia cellular phone, J$206,000 in cash and an undetermined amount of US and Vietnamese currencies.
While he was busy gathering the valuables, members of the group walked into the villa, but he managed to hide and they subsequently left the building without noticing him.
While he was heading home with the loot, Clarke got a call on one of the stolen cell phones. The female caller, who claimed ownership for the stolen items, offered him US$3,000 to return the items.
Thinking he had nothing to lose, Clarke agreed to the deal, all the time thinking that his victims were visitors to the island. An agreement was struck between Clarke and the caller to make the exchange at Folly Oval, on the outskirts of Port Antonio, approximately 10:30 p.m.
As Clarke was getting ready for the scheduled meeting, he got another call from the female. She told him she could only come up with US$1,800 and pleaded with him to accept that sum for the return of the items. Clarke agreed.
The exchange of money for the items took place as planned. Clarke returned all the stolen items, but was told he could keep the Nokia phone. No attempt was made to arrest him.
On the day following the exchange, Clarke was at home relaxing when a police party, including personnel from the Cybercrime Unit, who had seemingly tracked him down through the Nokia phone, barged in on him. He was promptly arrested.
While Clarke was being processed at the Port Antonio CIB office, the evening news was being aired on a television set in the room. He heard the story about the minister of national security being robbed at the Portland villa. It was then that he realised who his victims actually were.
It could not be ascertained if Bunting was party to or was aware of the transaction between Clarke and the female who made the deal with him.
Clarke was arrested and charged with burglary, inclusive of the items he had returned in the trade-off with the female caller. He was offered the service of a legal-aid lawyer to represent him.
Following the intervention of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the charge against Clarke was changed from burglary to the lesser charge of housebreaking and larceny.
Clarke has since pleaded guilty to the new charges against him, and was ordered fingerprinted in his last court appearance. He is to return to court on May 3 for sentencing.
[email protected]
Buoy, it tek dem dis amt a time fi come up wid dis story...
n is how juss ONE smaddy now response....ah sah...dis yah story so phoney but di troot is unprintable
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