Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday placed an East Ruimveldt taxi driver on $100,000 bail after he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge of attempted robbery.
Lennox Angus, 41, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on October 11 he attempted to commit a felony, that is to say while being armed with a gun he attempted to rob Bissondiyal Seepersaud of $600,000.
The court was told that one Afzal Khan and two others are also charged in connection with the robbery and there is an ongoing investigation. It was during this investigation that the defendant was contacted and told of the allegation.
The prosecutor further stated that on the day in question the defendant, who is a taxi driver, was hired and the occupants of the car attempted to rob the virtual complainant (VC) on his way to Georgetown.
The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that the police had difficulty intercepting the defendant and if granted bail he is not likely to return for trial.
Attorney Vic Puran appeared on behalf of the defendant and said that the defence is of the view that the facts outlined by the prosecution and the particulars of the charge did not tally.
The attorney noted that his client had been hired on the day in question as he earns his living as a taxi driver and when he was made aware that a robbery was taking place he drove his vehicle away.
Puran went on to say that no ID parade was held and his client had been in custody for 72 hours and instead of being released he was brought to court while the prosecution is asking for him to be remanded without any evidence that shows his involvement in the crime.
Puran added that his client was charged only after he had refused to be a witness in the matter.
The attorney then requested that the defendant be placed on reasonable bail.
Prosecutor Lionel Harvey then said that the defendant had given a caution statement indicating his involvement in the crime, but when the prosecutor was asked to provide the court with the said statement he was unable to do so. Magistrate Beharry stood the matter down for a short while as the prosecutor sought to acquire the statement.
When the court resumed the magistrate placed the man on bail and transferred the case to the Mahaicony Magistrates’ Court.
