A city Magistrate on Friday granted bail in the sum of $150,000 to an 18-year-old who was arraigned before him on a robbery under arms charge.
Seon Benjamin
Seon Benjamin of D Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown, denied the charge, which stated that on September 5, 2020, at Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Tifilesha Bond of a cell phone and gold jewellery valued $1,050,000.
Police Prosecutor Christopher Morris opposed to Benjamin being released on bail citing the fact that he is known to the police and has pending court cases. The prosecutor disclosed that on September 5, at about 07:50h, Bond and her husband were at Merriman’s Mall, Bourda, and were about to open their place of business when two men on a motorcycle pounced on them.
The prosecutor said that Benjamin stayed on the motorcycle, and handed the firearm to the pillion rider, who disembarked the motorcycle and approached Bond. The prosecutor disclosed that the gunman pointed the gun at Bond and relieved her of the articles mentioned in the charge.
The men made good their escape on the motorcycle. The couple lodged a report at the Alberttown Police Station, and the police, after reviewing CCTV footage, were able to identify Benjamin, who was wanted for questioning in relation to other robberies.
Benjamin was later arrested by the police. He was positively pointed out by the victims during an ID parade. In the end, the Magistrate overruled the prosecutor’s objections and granted Benjamin his pre-trial liberty. The robbery accused will make his next court appearance on October 9.
Meanwhile, in another case, 31-year-old Carlos Grimes of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was released on bail after it was alleged that he stole a motorcycle. Grimes, a block maker, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that between September 13, 2020, and September 14, 2020, at Meadow Brook Gardens, he stole one motorcycle valued $437,000, property of Samuel Ellis.
The defendant appeared before Magistrate Leron Daly at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. He was ordered to post bail in the sum of $85,000. He will return to court on October 30, 2020.
According to reports, Ellis parked the motorcycle on a bridge outside his home. On September 14, 2020, around 06:00h, Ellis was awakened by a noise and upon checking outside, he discovered his motorcycle was missing. He then reported the matter to the police and following an investigation, Grimes was arrested and charged for the offence.
