A young man was remanded to prison yesterday after he was charged with being part of a gang who attacked a fisheries worker and robbed him of his salary a short while after he was paid.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry was Warren McKenzie, 19, of Brutus Street, Agricola, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of armed robbery at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
It was alleged that on March 9, at McDoom, East Bank Demerara, McKenzie, being armed with a knife, robbed Vikash Gafoor, 18, of Belle West, Canal Number 2, of $13,000, two bowls, a haversack and a bottle of perfume. In total, Gafoor was robbed of cash and property amounting to $16,000.
Police Prosecutor Kerry Bostwick said Gafoor, who is employed with Pritipaul Singh Investments, had just received his salary when he was approached by three individuals, who robbed him using a knife.
Bostwick said Gafoor was hit in the head by one of the accused and fell unconscious.
He was picked up by a passer-by and taken to a hospital.
Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat, who said McKenzie was innocent, told the court that his client posed no risk of flight and he asked that he be admitted to bail in a reasonable sum.
Bostwick objected, arguing that if McKenzie were released on bail he would intimidate Gafoor.
Bostwick further stated that McKenzie was positively identified by Gafoor as the person who robbed him.
The magistrate subsequently refused McKenzie bail and remanded him to prison until Friday, when the matter will be called again.
