Victim accuses suspected robber of battery, holding him for ransom

Darlon Jones, the victim of an armed robbery, yesterday said that the man accused of carrying out the attack battered him for hours and threatened to kill him if his overseas-based mother did not send money for his release.

David Greene, 25, of Lot 3028 North Ruimveldt, was only charged with armed robbery when he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The charge against him stated that on September 3, at Lamaha Gardens, armed with a gun, he robbed Jones of $230,000.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

A visibly-injured Jones, who wore multiple bandages about his body, told the court that he sustained injuries, including a broken arm, when he was beaten and robbed.

Jones also said that Greene called his mother abroad and told her to send US$1,500 to him or he would be killed. “They put stuff in my mouth to keep me from making noise as they were beating me,” Jones said, while noting that he was beaten for hours.

Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, who represented Greene, said that he is a hardworking mason with a wife and two children, ages five and three years.

Fung-A-Fat made an application for reasonable bail to be granted but Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt objected to bail. He said that the offence is of a serious nature and further suggested that if granted bail, it is very likely that Greene will not return for trial.

As a result, Greene was subsequently remanded to prison until September 20.