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4th person charged over $92M heist

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MAIDSTONE, England (CNN) -- A fourth person has been charged in connection with last week's robbery of $92 million (£53 million) from a cash depot in Tonbridge, south of London.

Kent Police identified the man as Jetmir Bucpapa, a 24-year-old unemployed man from Tonbridge, and accused him of conspiracy to commit robbery.

He is to appear Friday morning before Maidstone magistrates' court.

Earlier Thursday, prosecutors asked that three other suspects in the February 22 robbery be held without bail.

The three suspects -- John Fowler, 57; Stewart Royle, 47; and Kim Shackleton, 39 -- appeared in court where prosecutors accused them of involvement in what is considered the biggest cash heist in British history.

While details of the accusations cannot be disclosed because of British court reporting rules, a prosecutor did accuse Fowler, a used car salesman, of conspiring to rob the depot, handling stolen goods, and kidnapping.

The three face a variety of charges in connection with last Wednesday's heist at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) southeast of London, the Crown Prosecution Service and police in the county of Kent said.

Investigators said the take from that holdup, which they blamed on "professional organized gangsters," topped more than £53.1 million -- slightly over $92 million. That doubled the previous UK record of £26.5 million taken from the Northern Bank headquarters in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 2004.

Fowler has been charged with one count of conspiracy to rob the Securitas depot and three counts of kidnapping in connection with the abduction of the facility's manager and his family. Royle is charged with conspiracy in connection with the robbery, while Shackleton is charged with handling stolen goods.

In a statement issued Wednesday night, Elizabeth Howe, the Kent chief prosecutor, said the charges were brought "after due examination of the existing evidence."

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard said the investigation was likely to continue "for many months and possibly years."

As the three were appearing in court, Kent Police made their 14th arrest in connection with the robbery, the UK's Press Association reported. A man was arrested at an address in Crowborough, southern England, on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.

Kent Police said detectives were given an extension until 9 p.m. Thursday to question two other men who remain in custody in connection with the heist.

Investigators said the perpetrators held the depot manager's wife and 9-year-old son hostage as they forced the manager let them into the facility.

Police have recovered about £1.3 million ($2.3 million) from the robbery, along with hoods, guns and body armor believed to have been used in it.

The cash depot is run by Sweden's Securitas, one of the world's largest security firms. In Great Britain, it conducts such services for businesses and government agencies, including the Bank of England.

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