SENIOR Magistrate Faith McGusty, on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, remanded to prison 48-year-old Michael White on a charge of armed robbery.

White, a pushcart vendor of Triumph Village, East Coast Demerara, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the charge alleged that on April 22, 2019, at Commerce Street, Georgetown, while being armed with a knife, White robbed Jairam Seetaram of a BLU cellphone valued $30,000, and $18,000 in cash.

Police prosecutor Seon Blackman told the court that, on the day in question, the victim was confronted by White who begged him for a cigarette. Seetaram refused and White reportedly cuffed him to the face. Seetaram fell to the ground and White allegedly whipped out a knife, held Seetaram at knifepoint, took the items from Seetaram and escaped.

White was later arrested by the police and was positively pointed out by the victim as the robber.

Blackman opposed White being granted pretrial liberty, citing the prevalence of the offence.
Magistrate McGusty remanded White to prison until May 15.