-court told

A man who allegedly caused a woman to hand over her cell phone to him out of fear as he pointed a gun at her, which according to police turned out to be a toy gun, was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The allegation is that on September 28 at Georgetown, Stanley Sumner, 30, being armed with a gun, robbed Gaitree Mootoo of one cell phone valued $40,000, property of the said Gaitree Mootoo.
The porkknocker pleaded not guilty to the charge of robbery under arms when it was read to him by the acting chief magistrate.

Prosecutor Stephen Telford in giving the facts of the case said that on the day in question, the accused went to the virtual complainant’s (VC) Church Street place of employment and held her at gunpoint while he demanded that she hand over her cell phone.

Frightened for her life after having a gun in her  face, Telford said that the woman immediately complied with the order.

According to the prosecutor the accused then forced the complainant and another female employee into the washroom of their workplace and locked them in before proceeding to rob another employee.

However, Telford said,  the male employee whom the accused attempted to rob “put up a daring fight” and as a result was able to restrain the perpetrator. The prosecutor said that the police were later summoned  and after conducting investigations, it was discovered that the weapon used was a toy gun.
The accused was told of the offence and was later charged.

Telford objected to Sumner being granted bail on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence.

The unrepresented Sumner was remanded to prison after being ordered to return to court on October 8 for statements.