A taxi driver accused of robbing his passenger at gunpoint was on Friday remanded to prison after making his appearance before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
The allegation against Ishmael Stewart is that on July 1 at Georgetown, being armed with a gun, he robbed Daniel Ramdeen of one cell phone and a quantity of cash valued $107,000.
The accused, a taxi driver who resides at Norton Street was not required to plead to the indictable charge of robbery under arms when it was read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
In presenting the facts of the case, police corporal Venetta Pindar told the court that on the day in question, the virtual complainant (VC) had hired the defendant to take him to Sophia when on their journey the accused pulled out a hand gun and demanded the articles mentioned in the charge.
According to Pindar, the VC alerted a mobile police patrol which stopped and searched the defendant upon whose person the articles were found.
The court then heard that the accused ran away but his escape bid was foiled when the lawmen shot him in the arm. He was later taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was treated and later arrested and charged.
The attorney who represented the accused said that the bullet is still lodged in her client’s arm and made an application for him to be admitted to reasonable bail.
The prosecution however objected to the bail application made by the defense citing that the offence is a serious and prevalent one. She said too that if granted his pre-trial liberty, there is a likelihood he may interfere with the VC and may not return to stand trial.
The Magistrate informed the lawyer that she had endorsed on the defendant’s warrant that he be given medical attention.
Stewart was then told that he would be remanded to prison until July 19 for statements.
