Two men yesterday pleaded not guilty to the charges of unlawful possession and robbery with aggravation when they appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on March 6 at Georgetown, Kevin Williams, 23, a labourer of 41 Prince William Street, Plaisance and Alfred Benjamin, 21, a cigarette vendor of Middle Street, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara jointly robbed Karyl Arthur of one Nokia cell phone valued $170,000.

Williams was further charged with the offence of unlawful possession which stated that on March 17 at Georgetown he had in his possession one Casio digital camera reasonably suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

Attorney-at-law Patrice Henry appeared for Williams and made an application for bail to be granted on the grounds that his client poses no risk of flight and he has been cooperating with police investigations and has a fixed place of abode.

According to Henry, “My Worship, my client has been treated in an unfair and unjust manner. He was arrested and kept in police custody for more than 72 hours and has been made the subject of an identification (ID) parade.”

When given a chance to respond, Benjamin explained to the Acting Chief Magistrate, “My Worship, I aint know nothing but dis matter, me aint even know dis man wah I get charge with.” He went on to say, “I went pun four different ID parades an I din get pick out, yet still deh hold me for more than 72 hours now.”

According to Police Prosecutor Denise Griffith, the defendants were identified as suspects and at the time when they were apprehended by the police, they were blaming each other for the robbery.

Williams was placed on bail in the sum of $40,000 for the two charges against him and Benjamin was granted $25,000 bail. The matters were transferred to Court Two for April 17.