Nineteen-year-old Tiryon Korton, of Lot 965 Block F, North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was on Friday arraigned before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, facing two counts of robbery.
Korton, represented by attorney Stacy Goodings, pleaded not guilty to both charges. The allegations state that on December 2, 2024, at North Sophia, he in the company of others, robbed Ron Barry of an iPhone 12 valued at $80,000, and $170,000 in cash. He was also accused of robbing Ronald Chow of $160,000 in cash, and a bag valued at $2,500; totalling $162,500.
Goodings, in her client’s defence, informed the court that this was his first time before the courts. She stated that Korton works as a minibus conductor, with his mother as his employer.
Tiryon Korton
On the day of the incident, she claimed, the victims crashed their vehicle into the bus he was driving. When he stopped to inquire about the accident, the victims allegedly attempted to flee the scene. At that moment, a crowd began to gather and swarmed the men, and Korton, to get compensation from the men, reportedly took the car keys from the victims’ vehicle, to make a report at the Prashad Nagar Police Station.
Upon his arrival at the station, Goodings said Korton was allegedly informed that a report had been made about a robbery in the area at another police station. He was later accused of being involved in the crime.
His attorney contended that he was pressured by police to return the keys or face charges. However, it was only upon appearing in court on Friday, that he realised he was being accused of robbing the victims of a phone and cash.
Goodings argued that no stolen items were found in Korton’s possession, and requested reasonable bail on the grounds of his innocence, and that he has already paid a $50,000 station bail.
The prosecution raised no objections to bail, and Magistrate Singh granted court bail in the sum of $25,000 for each charge, totalling $50,000.
He is expected to return to court on April 21.
