Man cops to bike theft, denies armed robbery

Ganesh Rampersaud, the accused in the hold-up of a woman carried out at gunpoint, yesterday denied the armed robbery charge, but admitted that he stole a motorbike and broke traffic laws by riding without a licence.

Rampersaud was remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court, where he was arraigned on two separate charges.

It was alleged that on November 9, in Sophia, Rampersaud, being armed with a gun, robbed Joanna Peters of her BlackBerry smartphone, a silver band and cash, amounting to $57,000 in value in total.

Ganesh Rampersaud

Although Rampersaud was not required to plead to the indictable charge, he told the court that he did not commit the crime.

However, Rampersaud did admit that during November 23 to 24, he stole a motor cycle CE 956, valued at $220,000 and the property of Michael Bower.

He also admitted that on November 25, he drove the motor cycle without identification at the front and the back of the vehicle, while not being the holder of a valid driver’s licence, without a certification of fitness and third party risk insurance.

Magistrate Moore, however, reserved his judgment pending information in relation to another matter for Rampersaud appeared before him.

Bail was refused and Rampersaud will make his next court appearance on January 25 for reports and fixtures.