WCB man remanded for robbery

A West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) man was on Thursday remanded when he appeared at the Fort Wellington Magistrates Court on a robbery charge.
Patrick Roach, 31, of Number 28 Village, WCB, appeared before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy, where the charge was read to him.
It is alleged that on July 28, Roach robbed 35-year-old Balwant Changalal of Experiment Bath Settlement, WCB, of a gold chain valued at $400,000.
He was not required to plead.
The prosecution objected to bail, stating that Roach has a pending matter at the Blairmont Magistrates’ Court for possession of a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without a license.
Magistrate Hardy denied bail and remanded Roach to prison. He is scheduled to return to court on August 20.
On the day in question, at about 21:00h, Roach and his friends were at a shop on Middle Dam, Bush Lot, WCB, when he approached Changalal and forcibly removed his gold chain. He allegedly struck Changalal in the face.
Roach jumped into a car parked nearby and fled the scene. At the time, Roach appeared to be holding a gun.
The matter was reported to the police.
Acting on the information received, officers from the Fort Wellington Police Station went to Roach’s residence and arrested him. He was subsequently placed before the court.