On Wednesday July 14, one of two charges against Police Constable Jermaine Mangar, Jermaine Palacio and Ernie Miranda Hyatt were withdrawn. The men appeared before Chief Magistrate Margaret Gabb-McKenzie who informed the men that based on the directives of the DPP’s office, the charges of attempted robbery was withdrawn against them.
Court Prosecutor Sgt. Egbert Castillo, on behalf of the DPP, indicated that the DPP will only be pursuing the charge of
conspiracy to commit robbery against the men. The matter was then adjourned until July 29.
On April 6, PC Mangar and Palacio were charged criminally. Those charges were followed by the arrest of Ernie Miranda Hyatt. They were being accused of an attempted robbery on Chon Saan Palace and conspiracy to commit robbery after reports were made by Lee Mark Chang that two men visited his establishment and were asking questions about the business operations. Further reports are that the men later returned and were captured on camera, but no crime was executed upon the business as authorities say they were tipped off by one of the accused. He is Jermaine Palacio who authorities say gave them a vivid report of how the men were going to carry out the robbery at Chon Saan. In that report, police claim he implicated PC Mangar as one of the persons behind the robbery plot.
In an interview, PC Mangar, who was very optimistic a week ago at his last adjournment, was a bit surprised when both charges were not thrown out. He told us that while he still believes strongly that he was set up by superiors of the Department, he is certain that he will be exonerated of the other charges.
In court, after the attempted robbery charge was withdrawn, Ernie Miranda asked the Chief Magistrate if bail could be reduced since the firearm charge was withdrawn. Miranda and Palacio are both on remand at the Hattieville Prison while PC Mangar is out on a $10,000 bail which was granted to him through a Supreme Court judge on April 16, after serving ten days on remand at the Hattieville Prison. Both men have other charges pending before the court. Palacio has a robbery and firearm charge against him while Miranda has several other charges including an assault charge.
