Man remanded on armed robbery charge

[www.inewsguyan.com] – A man who reportedly held a woman at knife-point in a Chinese restaurant before robbing her of her cellular phone was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a robbery under arms charge.

Toralva Scipio pleaded not guilty to the charge on Tuesday, January 20, which alleged that on January 18, at Pike Street, Georgetown, while being armed with a knife he robbed Selema Mohamed of a BlackBerry cellular phone valued $80,000.

Police Prosecutor, Michael Grant said around 19:15 hours on Sunday Mohamed went into Red Melody Chinese Restaurant to make a purchase. As she sat waiting on her order, the defendant walked up to her and demanded she hand over her cash.

Grant said she refused and the defendant pulled out a knife from under his shirt, placed it to her neck and demanded her cellular phone. She surrendered the items and he ran away. The matter was reported to the police and he was later captured.

The Prosecutor objected to bail citing the nature, gravity and prevalence of the offence as well as the penalty it attracts. Bail was refused and the case will be called again on February 13.