A man who was recently slapped with a series of armed robbery charges, was this morning back before a City Magistrate.
Twenty-nine-year-old Akeem Rajkumar called ‘Barney’ of Leopold Street, appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was slapped with three charges.
The first charge stated that on November 11,2019 at Leopold Street, Werk-en-rust, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Julia Elexy of an iPhone 11 valued $700,000 and a gold chain valued $800,000.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Ajay Mahadeo of a wallet valued $8,900, a phone valued $80,000 and $37,000 cash.
The last charge stated that on the same day and at the same location, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Timothy Morrison of a phone valued $98,000, a gold ring valued $60,000 and $158,000 cash.
Rajkumar pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to him.
Rajkumar, in addressing the court stated,” I does keep party every week in Leopold Street. They does come to my party so why would I rob them.”
The man further added,” This is total victimization. Yuh worship I have four kids to look after me ain’t get no reason to rob those people.
However, according to information, on the day in question, the victims were in Leopold Street when they were confronted by the defendant who was armed with a gun. The court heard the defendant pointed the gun at the victims and relieved them of their valuables. He then made good his escape. The matter was then reported and following investigation, Rajkumar was arrested for the offence. An identification parade was conducted at the station and he was positively identified by the victims as the person who robbed them. Hence, the present charges.
The Prosecutor objected to bail being granted to the defendant on the grounds of the serious nature of the allegation and the penalty the charge attracts. The Prosecutor also highlighted the fact that the defendant was previously charged with similar offences and that a weapon was used to commit the offences.
The Magistrate, after listening to both sides, remanded Rajkumar to prison. The father of four was instructed to make his next court appearance on March 30.
In 2017, Rajkumar was before the courts after he attacked and robbed three persons.
He was also previously before the courts charged with being in possession of 50 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking along with robbing Dexter France of a haversack containing raw gold, a pair of Timberland sneakers and a large sum of cash valued a total of $194,000 on June 27, 2017.
He was also shot by a police officer whom he attempted to disarm while being arrested.
