Court hears…

TWO Guyana Defense Force (GDF) soldiers appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday, charged with demanding money with menace. Matthew Austin, 32, of Lot 539 Number 29 Village, West Coast Berbice and Carl Jarvis, 25, of Lot 168 Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty.
Particulars of the offence said, on April 27, at Stampa Bay, Essequibo River, they menacingly demanded $600,000 from Toolsie Persaud with intent to steal.
Police Inspector Stephen Telford, prosecuting, said both defendants approached Persaud, who is involved in logging, telling him he was trespassing and demanded the cash to avoid him being prosecuted.
The Prosecutor said a trap was set by other officers and Austin and Jarvis wee apprehended immediately after they had collected $300,000 each from Persaud.
However, only $20,000 of the sum was genuine and the remainder was counterfeit, all marked, the Court heard.
Defence Counsel Joann Bond said Austin has 16 years military experience and Jarvis six but they worked part time with the virtual complainant who owed Austin $160,000 and blackmailed him.
The lawyer said Jarvis merely accompanied Austin to collect the cash due him
The two were, individually, granted $100,000 bail and the case was transferred to Bartica Court, also along Essequibo River, for May 12.