Third Suspect Charged in 2024 1st National Bank Robbery

Police have charged a third man in connection with the brazen robbery of the Choc, Castries branch of 1st National Bank St Lucia Limited which occurred five months ago. Forty-seven-year-old Palmerston Celestine was apprehended during a police operation at his residence which also resulted in him facing drug-related charges. Joel Phulgence and Corneil St Louis were previously charged in connection with the August 28, 2004 robbery, which involved unauthorised access to the bank’s Automated Banking Machine (ABM). According to a statement issued by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) on Tuesday, the investigation into the robbery continued even after the initial arrests, with police actively pursuing all leads. On Wednesday, January 22, this year, RSLPF personnel executed a search warrant at the Sans Souci, Castries residence of Celestine, who was a person of interest in the robbery investigation. During the operation, officers recovered quantities of cannabis and cocaine, leading to Celestine being charged with two counts of possession of controlled drugs and two counts of possession with intent to supply. “Whilst the investigations into these drug-related matters were being conducted, personnel from the Special Investigations Unit were actively pursuing leads regarding Palmerston’s involvement in the robbery on 28th August,...