Vickram Persaud, who was not required to plead to the charge of robbery under arms earlier, made another appearance before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday and was allowed to plead after the Administration of Justice Act (AJA) was applied.

Persaud was charged with robbing Rondel Albert  of a Yamaha motorcycle, two platinum diamond chains, a silver ring, a DVD player, a projector, two laptop computers, an iPod, a platinum television set, a quantity of clothes, sneakers and cash, among several other times, all totalling over $16.8M in value on September 30 at Lamaha Street.

In court yesterday, Persaud appeared sans lawyer Adrian Thompson. After pleading not guilty, Vickram told the magistrate that he only admitted to the crime after he was taken to the Kitty burial ground by police and tortured.

He told the magistrate he never before got a beating like that and that is why he confessed.

Further, Persaud said that he did not rob anyone. He said the friend he was living with had left the items there and he was out of the country.

Meanwhile, police prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Telford asked that bail be refused and a date be set for statements.

Persaud is to return to court on February 8 for statements.