VENDOR Victor Roberts (no address given) appeared yesterday before Chief Magistrate, Priya Sewnarine-Beharry accused of stealing an $80,000 gold chain with a pearl pendant belonging to Zola Campbell on Friday, May 16, at Avenue of the Republic in Georgetown.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge, but Police Corporal, Bharat Mangru, prosecuting, said that on the day in question, at around 13:00 hrs, the virtual complainant (VC) was walking along Avenue of the Republic when the defendant approached and snatched the chain from her. At around 14:10 hrs that day, at the Shell Gas Station, the victim saw and identified the accused to a policeman.

The defendant insisted on his innocence, alleging that on that day he and another person had been arrested for the offence and only he had been charged.

Prosecutor Mangru objected to Roberts being granted bail on grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. The magistrate therefore refused the defendant bail and put off the case to June 6.