A bus conductor accused of attempted robbery with violence was granted $100,000 bail when he yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer the charge.
The allegation against Junior Dey, 24, is that on February 12, at Croal Street, Georgetown, while being together with others he attempted to rob Haimchand Sugrim with violence.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.
In relating the facts of the case, Police Prosecutor Burgette Grant said that on the day in question around 8.30am Sugrim was standing on the corner of Croal Street holding a briefcase. Dey allegedly approached the virtual complainant (VC), hit him in his chest with a belt and attempted to relieve him of the briefcase. Despite the assault, the VC still managed to hold on to the briefcase when another person came up to him and dealt him four cuffs to the face. However, Sugrim held on to the briefcase.
Grant said that an alarm was raised and the VC positively identified the defendant as the person who committed the act. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the offence.
Attorney-at-law George Thomas, who represented the accused, said his client was waiting for a bus on the day in question and was pointed out as the assailant. He said his client has no idea of the charge read to him and that it is a case of mistaken identity.
In his bail application, Thomas said his client has a permanent address at Lot 18 Second Street, Alberttown and poses no risk of flight.
Further he said the defendant has no pending matters before the court; neither does he have any antecedents.
The prosecutor did not object to bail; however, she asked that it be set at a substantial sum. She also asked that the accused lodge his travel documents with the police.
The magistrate acceded to the prosecution’s requests.
However, Thomas asked the magistrate to consider granting his client a reduction in his bail as he cannot now, nor in the future, afford that sum.
He further said that if a reduction is granted his client can report to the Alberttown police station.
The magistrate denied the request based on the seriousness of the offence.
Dey was ordered to return to court on March 8.
