A man was on Tuesday remanded to prison after being arraigned on charges of robbery, disorderly behaviour and multiple counts of assault, including attacking a police officer.
Michael Coggins, 25, of Lot 51 Pere Street, Kitty, was charged at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court with robbing Amjad Rahaman of a Canadian passport, a cell phone and a wrist watch, valued at $180,000 in total, on September 8 at Georgetown.
He was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman.
It was also alleged that on July 3, at the Kitty Police Station, Coggins assaulted a police officer. He pleaded not guilty to this charge.
Also on the same day, it is alleged that he behaved disorderly. He pleaded guilty to this charge, telling the magistrate that while he was arrested and was being kept at the police station, he pleaded with the officers at the outpost to use the bathroom and they refused to let him do so. “They went to sleep and left me to urinate myself on the bench. I was calling out and making noise so I can use the toilet,” he said.
Magistrate Latchman subsequently changed his plea to not guilty.
The fourth charge against Coggins stated that on July 2, at Pere Street, Kitty, he unlawfully assaulted Lester Hopkinson so as to cause him actual body harm. He was also charged with unlawfully assaulting Junior Bailey so as to cause him actual body harm and also on the same day. He pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt objected to bail, saying he was concerned that if granted bail, Coggins may not return for trial. He said that Coggins resides in the same street with Rahaman and he felt that if granted bail it was likely that he would go after Rahaman.
Rahaman was present in court and said that he was scared for his life. He said that Coggins and some his friends on the day of the robbery also assaulted him.
Rahaman also pleaded for his passport to be returned. He said that his mother is due for a medical surgery within the next month and he would not be able to be by her side during that time if he does not receive his passport since there is a lengthy waiting period for a new passport to be issued through the Canadian High Commission.
Hunt objected to bail on all of the four additional charges. He said that, Coggins dealt Hopkinson several cuffs and kicks, causing him to suffer swelling and bruises about his body. As a result, bail was refused and Coggins was remanded to jail until September 17.
