A bus conductor was yesterday brought before a city court on an armed robbery charge.
Haile Forrester, 47, of 297 Second Street, Herstelling, pleaded not guilty to a charge stating that on November 8, 2015, at Sachi Bazaar Street, Prashad Nagar, he robbed Natasha Allen at knife-point.
The charge stated that during the robbery a Samsung Note 2, an Alcatel tablet, an LG cellphone, a Guyana passport, a national identification card, $1,800 local currency and US$20 were taken from the victim. The articles amounted to a value of $252,800 in total.
The prosecution objected to bail based on the gravity of the charge and the penalty it attracts, while also citing the fact that a weapon was used during the course of the robbery.
When asked by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan whether an identification parade was held in the matter, police prosecutor Deniro Jones related that a few days ago, Allen saw the accused at the Stabroek Market square and pointed him out to the police, leading to his arrest.
Forrester, however, was adamant that he had no knowledge of the allegation. From all indications, the accused was to receive legal representation but his lawyer was not present at the time of the hearing.
Forrester was ordered to be remanded to prison until his next court hearing, scheduled for March 7 in Court 6.
