Mason, tattoo artist remanded over cutlass robbery

A jointly charged duo charged with robbing a man of a quantity of items totalling $8,360 while holding a cutlass to his neck was remanded to prison when they appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Mason Seon De Santos, 18, of Lot 35 John Street Campbellville, and tattoo artist Steffon Shanks, 20, of 400 Canje Street Prashad Nagar, both denied the allegation that on July 4 they robbed Christendat Persaud of a haversack, socks, lunchbox, a jersey and other items, all totalling $8,360.

The duo was remanded to prison after Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry heard the matter.

Counsel for the young men, Paul-a-Fat submitted that the articles were recovered and no weapon was found on their person.

The court heard from Prosecutor Vernette Pindar that on the day in question, the virtual complainant (VC) was standing on Vlissengen Road waiting transportation when the duo rolled up on a bike. Shanks hopped off, held the cutlass to the VC’s neck and demanded his property before they rode off in the same direction they came.

Pindar said police in the vicinity responded to alerts of the incident and the duo was subsequently arrested.

According to Fung-a-Fat, De Santos had only asked Shanks for a ride on his bicycle but they were not involved in the robbery.

The magistrate remanded the men until the continuation of the matter on July 30.