TWO sex workers found themselves before city Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday, charged with aggravated robbery.

Akeem Pyle, 24 of Victoria Road, Plaisance East Coast Demerara and Gabriel Rowe, 25 of Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the joint charge.

It is alleged that on March 25, 2017 at South Road, Georgetown, they robbed Anthony Amos of $30,000 cash, and at the time of, immediately before, or immediately after the robbery, used personal violence.

Their lawyer, Paul Fung-a-Fat explained that on the day in question, the alleged victim asked his clients for a “club sandwich” [three persons engaging in sex], however the man was intoxicated and could not satisfy his clients.

In his application for bail, the lawyer also pointed out that his clients are transgender females and if placed on remand with the general male population, they would be raped repeatedly.

However, Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonzales strongly opposed on bail, citing the seriousness, penalty and prevalence of the offence. According the prosecutor, on the night in question at about 01:30hrs, the Virtual Complainant (VC) was in the passenger seat of a motor car driving along South Road when the car slowed down at a corner to turn.

The court heard then as the car slowed down, the sex workers entered in the back seat and chocked Amos from behind.  It is alleged that the diver immediately drove the car to the Brickdam Police Station where the defendants were arrested and charged.  Bail was granted in the sum of $100,000 for each defendant and the matter was adjourned to April 10, 2017.