Two men, who were apprehended after allegedly committing a brazen robbery on a phone store near police headquarters last Friday, were yesterday remanded after being charged with multiple counts of armed robbery.
According to the charges read against Jermaine Bailey and Adam McDonald by Magistrate Ann McLennan, on October 2, at Parade Street, Kingston, while in the company or others and armed with guns, they robbed Troy Wong of a quantity of cellular phones, valued $1.2 million, and John Campayne of $60,000. It is also alleged that they robbed Derick Quaicoe of four cellular phones, valued $150,000 in total. Both men were not required to plead as the charges were indictable.
Bailey was charged separately with two counts of armed robbery. He was accused of being armed with a gun and robbing Abena Abdulla of a total of $750,000 in local and foreign currency. He was also charged with robbing Anand Persaud of $2,300. Both robberies allegedly took place on September 30, at Kitty.
Bailey was not required to plead as the charges were also indictable.
McDonald, however, pleaded not guilty to charges of illegal gun and ammunition possession.
According to the charges, on the same day of the robberies, McDonald was found with a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol and two live rounds of 9 mm ammunition, both without being the holder of a valid firearm licence.
In making a bail application on behalf of Bailey, attorney Peter Hugh told the court that his client had no prior knowledge nor did he participate in any of the crimes in which he has been implicated.
Additionally, Hugh said the 21-year-old was placed on an identification parade but was not positively identified by Abdulla.
The unrepresented McDonald denied that they took part in any robbery and he noted that the only thing the police found on them were their cell phones. Objections to bail came from the prosecution, who cited the gravity of the offence and the fact that guns were used during the attacks.
As a result, both men were remanded to prison. They are expected to make their next court appearance on October 26.
The two men were held by police after an attack on Elite Mobile at around 2.30 pm last Friday.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had told Stabroek News that following the robbery the men apparently panicked and two fled in a car and the other escaped on foot. He added that during the escape bid, the driver of the car crashed into the seawall and lost control of the vehicle, which turned turtle in the nearby trench. He said that the two occupants disembarked and started running in an eastern direction. The police gave chase and later apprehended them.
