East Ruimveldt man remanded on armed robbery, gun charges

An East Ruimveldt man who the police accused of having in his possession an unlicensed firearm with matching rounds and of robbing a woman at gunpoint was yesterday remanded to prison.

Dexter Wallace, 20, of 38 Front Road, East Ruimveldt denied the charges read to him by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court 1.

The police said that on June 15, at Oronoque and Anira streets Wallace had in his possession one .38 revolver and six .38 rounds of live ammunition, without being the holder of a valid firearm licence.

He was accused of holding Petal De Freitas at gunpoint and robbing her of $151,500.

Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat appeared for the defendant.

The attorney requested bail for Wallace, as he informed the court that his client was innocent of the robbery charge.

The attorney said that the same day his client was accused of robbery, he was at work.

However, Prosecutor Bharat Mangru objected to bail.

Mangru said the complainant was walking along Oronoque Street when the defendant held her at gunpoint and relieved her of the cash.

On June 17, a police patrol stopped the defendant on Camp Street and discovered the firearm and ammunition on his person, the prosecutor added.

The accused was also pointed out by the defendant in an identification (ID) parade, the prosecutor said, while he noted the seriousness of the offence and the fact that a gun was used in the commission of the crime.

The prosecutor also argued that no special reasons were raised by counsel to justify the granting of bail.

The objection by the prosecutor was upheld and Wallace was remanded to prison.

He was ordered to return to court on July 3.