POLICEMAN Colin Harris, of Lot 207 East La Penitence and civilian Kelvin Pollard, of Lot 607 East Ruimveldt, both 19 years old, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry Wednesday , charged jointly with robbery under arms. Each of the defendants denied the allegation that, on Saturday, December 7, at South Ruimveldt Gardens, also in Georgetown, being armed with guns, they robbed Rosita Kalchow of G$620,000 and US$50, property of Vibert Puran.
Police Corporal Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, told the court that the virtual complainant is an office assistant at Green Ice Taxi Service, in the city, too, where she was at work when the number one defendant pointed a gun at her and took out the money from her desk.
He, subsequently, ran out of the premises and made good his escape with number two defendant who was waiting on a motorcycle.
The prosecutor said, soon after, a message was sent out by the dispatcher and taxi drivers, who conducted a search, found the duo fitting the given description along Mandela Avenue and seized the motorcycle.
Attorney-at-law, Mr. Melville Duke, who represented Harris, said he is a serving member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at Linden, a man of good character and had been threatened on that day when his bike was taken away.
Defence Counsel said Harris was robbed and went to make a report at the police station when he was pointed out as one of the suspects.
Lawyer maintained
The lawyer maintained that his client was wearing a black helmet when he was accused of wearing a red helmet.
Other attorney-at-law, Mr. Winston Moore, for Pollard, said the latter is self-employed and lives with his parents. That day, he had been sent, by his mother to purchase kerosene, when he asked his friend to give him a drop and the bike was taken away by some taxi drivers.
The prosecutor successfully objected to bail for the defendants, citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.
He acknowledged that Harris was identified but the other defendant was not. Still, the lawyers’ application for reasonable bail was refused, resulting in the teenagers being remanded to prison until January 10.