A fisherman, who was being held for questioning into the murder of a Unity, Mahaica woman, yesterday appeared in a city court where he was slapped with a charge of robbery with violence committed on another woman and was remanded to prison.
Zahir Mohammed pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1. He is accused of robbing Indroutie Narine of a quantity of cash and three cartons of cigarettes, amounting to a total value of $177,000, and using personal violence on her immediately before and after the alleged robbery on June 21.
According to the police, Narine lives at Unity, Mahaica where she operates a grocery shop and the accused is well known to her since he usually purchases from her shop. On the day in question, around 2 pm, Narine was in front her shop when the accused allegedly went and asked to purchase two cigarettes. When Narine went into the shop to sell him, the court heard, the accused held on to her and dealt her several cuffs about her face and body while demanding cash and jewellery. He then reportedly bound her hands and mouth after which he made good his escape with the articles mentioned.
Police Prosecutor Bharrat Mangru objected to bail citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence and the fact that the accused is known to Narine. He said that if granted bail there may be tampering with the prosecution witnesses.
Further, Mangru also told the court that investigations into a matter of a similar nature, where the victim involved died, are currently being conducted and more charges are likely to be laid against the defendant.
As a result, the prosecution’s objection was upheld and bail was refused. The matter was transferred to the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court for July 3.
