Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson granted bail to two men who allegedly robbed the son of Minister Shaik Baksh of an iPod while he was exercising at Bagotstown.
Rondel Williams, 20, of 83 Leopold Street and Christoff Braithwaite, 19, of 19 George Street, Werk-en-Rust both pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery with violence.
It is alleged that on January 18, Williams and Braithwaite robbed Kamrul Baksh of an iPod valued $50,000 and used violence to commit the act.
However, Williams’s lawyer, Adrian Thompson applied for bail for him on the grounds that the iPod was recovered. He stated that from information gathered, it was a gang of boys riding on bicycles who carried out the robbery and because his client was in the area at the time the police arrested him.
Brathwaite’s lawyer also applied for bail for him on the grounds that he had no previous convictions and if granted bail his client would return to court.
However, Prosecutor Sherwin Matthews said a gang was never involved in the robbery. He said that on the day in question Baksh was on the “seawalls” at Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara exercising when Williams and Braithwaite approached him and violently robbed him of the iPod. He noted that the iPod was found in Braithwaite’s possession and Williams was implicated in the matter since the two of them were together on the day of the robbery.
Matthews then asked that Braithwaite’s bail application be refused since he had allegedly told the police that he lived in Henry Street and because Braithwaite’s father had also been before the court charged with similar offences.
Matthews asserted that “the person must be of reputable character if he is to stand as a surety that the accused would return to court” but in this case that isn’t so since “the son ain’t far from his father.”
Thompson then stated that “the prosecution has no relevant grounds” to object to his client’s bail application since the offence was a bailable one and any one of Braithwaite’s family members could have stood as a surety that he would return to court if granted bail.
The magistrate subsequently placed both Williams and Braithwaite on bail in the sum of $75,000 each and ordered that they appear again in court on February 12.
some matters can be dealt with out of court before wasting tax payers money, and this is one such case. When a minister nearly kill a you man he didn’t get charge an go to court but now a lil ipod get snatch they charging people.
sand so you are saying it is right for people to commit robbery/snatching..and not being charged…if you commit a crime regardless of how minor it is you should be charged..from minor it get to bigger..if step are not be taken….i am very surprised at your statement..
what sand is saying is that the minister that almost killed the should have been charged also.
stealing an ipod is less serious that almost killing someone.
THE GUYS THAT STOLE THE IPOS SHOULD BE CHARGED.
THE MINISTER THAT ALMOST KILLED THE GUY SHOULD BE CHARGED ALSO.
Hey chaps , they also used VIOLENCE ! Which could have resulted in the DEATH of the youngster. It’s just like someone snatching a purse and running away . A crime is a crime , don’t tell me you don’t know how the world turns , not only in guyana that ministers get off with crime !!
Positive proof that some are blatantly more equal in our today’s society
Christoff Braithwaite was my student at Smith Memorial School on Hadfield Street,but never a kid like that.I am not saying what he did is right,but I think we have to look beyond the problem ,and find out what is it , that made him commit this offfence.It makes me sad that no programmes are put in place for these youths.I remembered him like it was yesterday ,short and buff with that brod smile.Now I am no longer your teacher,all I can promise is my prayers.Anyhow I was happy when I saw two of my past students working at the Cheddi Jagan Airport last summer.
Sandhurst, that’s how “they” start out. Stealing small things, gaining confidence, becoming empowered by not being caught. Next they move unto to snatching gold chains, cell phones and then ….”WHAM” a gun in your face asking you for all you worked your entire life for!
I hope the judge sees the potential in these “junior criminals” and punish them appropriately.