A 33-year-old father of one was yesterday granted $150,000 bail after pleading not guilty to aggravated robbery.
Brentol Charles, of Lot 9 Durban Street and Lot 5 Vergenoegen, pleaded not guilty to a charge which was read to him by Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on March 17, 2017, at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, Charles, in the company of others, robbed Katan Wu of $300,000, two cell phones valued $350,000, a computer bag worth $4,000 and a quantity of clothes valued $10,000, with a total value of $664,000.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Liverpool, having noted that the alleged robbery had been committed more than a year ago, questioned the delay in the institution of charges against the accused.
She was, however, informed by the prosecution that though attempts were made to apprehend Charles, it was only on Tuesday that police were able to do so.
It was further noted that Charles’ arrest is premised on video footage that was retrieved, which, according to the prosecution, showed an individual who bore tattoos similar to his. The prosecution also related that the accused was pointed out by Wu during an identification parade.
Regarding bail, the prosecution objected, citing that Charles is a flight risk.
Nonetheless, the Magistrate noted that bail was going to be granted in the sum of $150,000 on the condition that Charles surrenders all travel documents to the police and reports fortnightly to the Leonora Police Station.
The case is expected to be called again on November 12 for submission of statements and fixtures.
