Repeat offender remanded for series of armed robberies

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Charged and remanded: Akeem Rajkumar, called “Barney”
Charged and remanded: Akeem Rajkumar, called “Barney”

Known court character, 29-year-old Akeem Rajkumar called “Barney” was once again hauled before the courts for another series of armed robberies, an offence he was charged for in 2017 and 2018.

Rajkumar, of Leopold Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, denied the three charges he faced after they were read to him by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The first allegation levelled against the young man read that while armed with a dangerous weapon – a gun – he robbed Julia Elexy of an iPhone 11 valued $700,000 and a gold chain valued $800,000 on November 11, 2019, at Leopold Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. The second charge detailed that on the said day and location, also armed with a gun, Rajkumar robbed Ajay Mahadeo of a wallet valued $8900, a cellular phone valued $80,000 and $37,000.

Moreover, the final allegation stated that on the aforementioned date and location, armed with the said weapon, he robbed Timothy Morrison of a cellular phone valued $98,000, a gold ring valued $60,000 and $158,000.

The court heard that on the day in question, the three victims were in the area of Leopold Street when the defendant, armed with a firearm, pounced on them and relieved them of their belongings.

Following a police report and investigation, Rajkumar was arrested and taken into custody. The defendant was positively identified by all three victims during an identification (ID) parade

Objections to bail were made on the grounds that Rajkumar was before the courts for similar charges and the said weapon was used. The penalty and prevalence of the charges were listed as to why bail should be refused.

As a result, Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus upheld the prosecution’s submission and remanded Rajkumar to prison until March 30, 2020.

In 2017 and 2018, the said defendant was brought before the courts on narcotics possession and armed robbery charges, which are still pending in the city courts.

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