Taxi driver put on $1.1M bail over three counts of armed robbery

Randy Morris, called “Remey”, appeared yesterday before acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine–Beharry charged with robbery under arms committed on miner Kenneth Joaquin and two counts of armed robbery in the Bourda Market.

The 22-year-old taxi driver was placed on $1,100,000 bail.

According to the prosecution, on November 9 the accused, who resides at Lot 263 East La Penitence, while being armed with a gun, robbed Kenneth Joaquin of $5,320,000. It is further alleged that on September 23 at Bourda Market he robbed Indira Dhandoo and Mohamid Ameer Kareem of cellular phones, gold jewellery and cash, totaling in excess of $1 million.

The man was not required to plead to the indictable charges when they were read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

In presenting the facts, Prosecutor Lionel Harvey told the court that on November 9, the VC was in the vicinity of Hunter Street when his car stopped at the traffic light. He was confronted by a man who was wearing a hat, in company with another. Harvey said they held the VC at gunpoint and demanded the money. The VC resisted and was shot to his thigh and the armed men then made good their escape. The VC was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was given medical attention and was later discharged.

The prosecution further stated that the accused turned himself in at the police station a few days ago.

Attorney Adrian Thompson made an application for bail citing to the court that his client was never convicted of any previous offence and he does not match the description of the armed man who would have engaged in the robbery.

The application was granted by the magistrate who ordered the man to report at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) every Friday.

The man was placed on $600,000 bail for the first offence and $250,000 each for the other two matters.

The matter was adjourned until February 2, 2012.