MAGISTRATE Ann McLennan, on Monday, December 16, 2019, granted bail of $200,000 to each of two gold miners accused of robbery.

Mark Smith, 31, of Mocha and Robin Patrick, 20, of Charity Housing Scheme, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and denied the charge, when it was read to them.
Particulars of the charge stated that, on December 9, 2019, at Essequibo, while being armed with cutlasses and wood, they robbed Claudo DaSilva of a ATV motorcycle valued at $3,500,000.

Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield made no objections to bail being granted to the men and told the court that, on the day in question, DaSilva was riding his motorcycle, on his way to a mining camp, when he was forced to slow down on the trail.

Mansfield added that Smith and Patrick came out from nearby bush, armed with the items mentioned in the charge, dealt DaSilva several lashes across his body and relieved him of his motorcycle and made good their escape.

The matter was reported to the Mahdia police station and the men were arrested by public-spirited citizens. An investigation was launched and the miners were positively identified by DaSilva.

Magistrate McLennan granted the men $200,000 bail each and ordered that they report to the Mahdia police station every Friday until the completion of the matter.
The matter was adjourned until January 14, 2020, at the Mahdia Magistrates’ Court.