A Stabroek Market vendor was yesterday granted $150,000 bail after he was charged in a city court with armed robbery.
It is alleged that on February 13, at Stabroek Market, being armed with an ice picker, Cereste Rogers, of Lot 676 ‘B’ Field, Sophia, robbed Shazad Samad of a Samsung Galaxy smartphone and a quantity of cash amounting to $55,000.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.
Rogers told the court, “My worship I asking you to see what you will do because I is a hardworking man and I does hustle hard I don’t know anything of no phone.”
When asked if he had any previous convictions, Rogers replied, “no but in 2008 I went to High court for murder and we end up winning the case and since I come out deh, I wuking in the market.”
Police Prosecutor Michael Grant said on the day in question, at about 7:30pm, Samad was walking into Stabroek Market after purchasing some DVD discs when Rogers, armed with the weapon, death him a stab to his gut before escaping. Acting on information received, the accused was arrested and later charged.
Grant had no objection to bail but ask for it to be of substantial sum.
Bail was granted in the sum of $150,000 on the condition that Rogers report to Mr. Harper at the Brickdam Police Station every Friday, commencing from March 17.
The matter is adjourned to April 1.
