Taxi driver remanded on armed robbery charge

Magistrate Allan Wilson remanded a taxi driver accused of a gunpoint robbery of a man, when he yesterday appeared in the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charge.

The court heard that Travis Waithe, 22, of 240, Forshaw Street, Queenstown, a taxi driver attached to Confidential Taxi Service, on February 22, while being armed with a gun, allegedly robbed Sasenarine Balkarran of a quantity of gold jewellery and a cell phone amounting to a total of $200,000. He pleaded not guilty to robbery under arms when the charge was read to him.

According to the facts of the case, on the said day, Balkaran and some of his friends were standing at De Abreau Street, Newton, Kitty when two men walked up to him, pointed a gun at him and took away the said items. The men then ran off and joined a waiting car. Balkaran’s friend then jumped into his own car and gave chase; however, the getaway car escaped.

In his address to the court, the accused said that his car had been stolen by four men and that he had no knowledge of the crime.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that there is an ongoing investigation into the matter and if granted bail the defendant may interfere in the investigation.

Waithe was subsequently remanded and ordered to return to court on March 15.