A D’urban Street resident, accused of robbing a Good Samaritan, was on Thursday granted bail for the but will spend the next month in prison after he tearfully told the court that he could not afford to post it.
Mark Hollingsworth, 34, of 16 D’urban Street, Lodge was unrepresented when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The construction worker was charged with allegedly stealing a Samsung Galaxy cellphone, valued at $60,000, from Samuel Henry on July 28.
According to the police’s case, on the date in question at about 2:30pm, Henry went to Qik Serv at the Stabroek Market to make a purchase. Upon entering the restaurant, he encountered a woman struggling with several bags. Henry reportedly placed his cellphone on the counter to lend a helping hand to the woman.
However, while he aided the woman he allegedly saw Hollingsworth pick up his cellphone and run out of the establishment. Henry gave chase but Hollingsworth escaped, Prosecutor Michael Grant said.
Police investigations led to the defendant’s arrest and subsequent charge, Grant further said.
No objections to bail were raised by the prosecutor and it was set in the sum of $50,000. Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry then ordered Hollingsworth to return on September 8 for statements.
Upon hearing his bail figure, Hollingsworth told the court that he had no one to pay the bail for him nor could be afford it himself.
“Leh we plead guilty and done,” the man said. However, the magistrate maintained that the date had already been set and the matter was finished for that session.
In tears, Hollingsworth once again requested his plea be changed. However, his request was refused again. The man then proceeded to throw himself on the ground and eventually had to be escorted out of the courtroom and into the prisoners’ chute.
