A man who allegedly robbed several individuals of over $1.8 million worth of cash, jewellery and other items was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Derek Norton pleaded not guilty to six charges of robbery under arms when they were read to him by Magistrate Priya Beharry.

It is alleged that on July 19 in Georgetown, the accused while being armed with a gun robbed Yonnette Balgobin of $1 million cash and a quantity of gold jewelry worth $500,000.
On the same day it is alleged that he robbed Seveno Hame, Yannick Bowen, Orin Fordyce, Jules Spencer and Amrita Narine of cash, jewellery and cellular phones worth $12,000, $23,000, $131,000, $47,000 and $120,000 respectively.
According to Norton, one of the men he was accused of robbing worked at the place where the alleged robbery occurred.

“He tell me to come and collect some money at this place,” Norton said. He went on to explain that he and another man went there and the employee was the one who directed him to where the money was kept. Norton said that at this point a woman started to scream “thief, thief” and he began to run.

The same employee, Norton further stated, called him to ask how much money he managed to get and demanded a share.

The prosecution informed the court that Balgobin owns a DVD shop and it was there the robberies occurred.  According to them, the employee to whom Norton referred is at present on bail pending further investigations.

Magistrate Beharry refused Norton bail. The matter has been transferred to Court Five where the accused will appear before Magistrate Hazel Octive-Hamilton on August 25.