Two men were remanded to prison on Friday on a charge that they robbed another man of over $2M in valuables in a knife-point hold-up and left him tied up as they made their escape.
Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court Two heard that
Robert Beckles, a miner, and Kester Gilkes, a taxi driver, armed with knives, robbed Alexander Hernandez of a quantity of valuables amounting to a total value of $2,192,000, belonging to Chetram Ramlochan, on December 8, at 157 Amelia’s Ward, Linden.
The two men, who were jointly charged with armed robbery, were not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail based on the gravity of the charge and the penalty it attracts. Jones also said that personal violence was used during the attack.
Jones said that on the day in question, Hernandez, who is a workman for Ramlochan, was at his home when Gilkes and Beckles entered, both armed with knives. They tied Hernandez and then took the valuables.
However, Jones said at about 12:10am the two men were stopped by police who were on patrol and a search conducted on them uncovered the valuables. It was after the suspicion of the robbery arose that police contacted Ramlochan, who found Hernandez and untied him and then took him to the police station. He positively identified Gilkes and Beckles, Jones added.
Gilkes’ attorney, Clive Forde, made an application for reasonable bail to be granted to his client. Forde said Gilkes was contacted to do a drop and had nothing to do with the alleged robbery but was arrested since it was his car in which the valuables were found.
Forde added that his client was willing to abide by any condition put forward to him by the court. Beckles was unrepresented during the hearing.
Despite the lawyer’s submission, Magistrate McLennan opted to refuse bail. The matter was adjourned until December 17, when it will be called at the Linden Magistrate’s Court.
