A recently released convict who admitted he robbed a man and woman while they were having lunch on the Kingston seawall was one of two men slapped today with robbery charges.
Navin Ally, 24, of Third Street, Alberttown appeared before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus where he pleaded guilty to two robbery charges. He was jointly charged with Seon Ray, 20, of Sussex Street, Campbellville. However, Ray pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The first charge against Ally and Ray stated that on June 15, 2019 at Kingston, Georgetown, while being in each other’s company, they robbed Terrel Chu of two phones valued at $100,000, a haversack valued at $10,000, and a bottle of perfume valued at $15,000.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location, they robbed Inshan Singh of a haversack valued at $25,000, a phone valued at $35,000, and a chain valued at $30,000.
Ally in his explanation to the court stated, “I was recently released from prison after serving six months for possession of narcotics. A few days ago I was on the seawall and someone robbed me. So, when I saw the couple having lunch, I decided to rob them in an act of revenge.”
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris stated that on the day in question, the victims, who are in a relationship, were having lunch near the construction site of Pegasus, facing the ocean.
The court heard that Ally and Ray approached the victims from behind and told them to hand over their valuables or they would shoot them.
Chu and Singh, being fearful for their lives, handed over the articles mentioned in the charge to Ally, who then ran away from the scene.
An alarm was raised and police officers who were patrolling in the area responded promptly and arrested the defendants. A search was then conducted on them and Ally was found with Singh’s articles while Ray was found with Chu’s articles.
They were taken into custody where an identification parade was conducted and they were positively identified as the robbers.
The magistrate, after listening to the facts, sentenced Ally to two and a half years behind bars for each of the charges. His sentences will run concurrently.
On the other hand, Ray was remanded to prison until June 24 on the grounds of the serious nature of the offences and the penalty attached to them.