A 27-year-old man who allegedly robbed two persons at gunpoint of just over $2 million in cash and other items was refused bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Dennis Seeraj of 40 West La Penitence, Georgetown was not required to plead to the two counts of robbery under arms when they were read to him by Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton.
It is alleged that on July 9 at Thomas Street, Georgetown the accused being armed with a gun, robbed Asif Bacchus of two cellular phones worth $113,000 and $300,000 and US$300. He also allegedly roobbed Javed Rahaman of $1.7 million at the same location.
Attorney-at-law, Mishka Puran, told the court her client was severely beaten. According to her, in the presence of her associate Vic Puran the officer-in-charge of A Division had given instructions to Sergeant Trevor Reid to take Seeraj to the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment before taking him to court, but this was not done.
Puran told the court that she was aware of the court’s position as it pertained to granting bail in such matters but cited the need for medical attention as the special reason why her client’s bail application should be granted.
Further, she told the court that Seeraj has a fixed place of abode, he has no antecedents nor were any of the stolen items or a weapon recovered on his person. Puran added that her client has been in police custody since last Wednesday and to date an identification parade has not been conducted.
The prosecution objected to bail stating the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. Addressing Puran’s point on the identification parade the prosecution stated that none was conducted because one of the virtual complainants knows the accused.
A second application was then submitted to the magistrate for Seeraj to be taken for medical attention. However, the magistrate advised the attorney that whatever ailments her client was suffering from could be brought to the attention of the prison authorities who would take the necessary action.
The magistrate remanded the accused and the matter continues on November 3.
