Hotdog seller, 19, remanded for robbing Chinese shop owner

May 02, 2014 News

An alleged gun-toting teenage boy was remanded to prison for purportedly robbing a Chinese shop owner of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, articles and electronic gadgets.
Matthew Gasper, 19, of D’urban Backlands, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to face one count of robbery under arms.
The police alleged that on April 9, last in Georgetown, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, Gasper robbed Choo Yi Yang of $701,000 in cash and items which included a laptop, iPod, as well as a large quantity of Digicel and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) phone cards.
When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty and submitted an application for reasonable bail through his lawyer, Paul Fung-a-Fat.
The Prosecution was led by Inspector Michael Grant who said that Choo is a D’urban Street business owner who was approached by the teen and two others, moments after he secured his business and was venturing home.
He explained that the teen brandished a gun and demanded that the man hand over his possessions. After relieving the shop owner of the items and $305,000 in cash, they reportedly escaped.
The matter was reported and acting on information received police ranks managed to apprehend Gasper, the Prosecution said.
Grant related that the accused was fingered during an identification parade and the charge was subsequently instituted against him.
The Inspector offered several objections to bail. He urged the court to consider the serious nature and prevalence of the offence, as well as the gravity of the charge and the fact that a gun was used in the commission of the offence, and those were sufficient grounds for him to be denied his pretrial liberty.
His objections, however, were met with arguments from Fung-a-Fat who contended that nothing was found on his client, no identification parade was conducted, and no confession statement was elicited from Gasper.
Furthering his application, Fung-a-Fat said “It was three days after they kept him in the lockups that they came and charged him, your worship.”
He described Gasper as a hot dog seller who has had no previous brushes with the law.
Notwithstanding his application, bail was refused and Gasper is expected to appear in court again on May 12 for statements. Additionally, the Chief Magistrate granted the defence attorney’s request to “see the case jacket.”

Latest News

Hotdog seller, 19, remanded for robbing Chinese shop owner

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Team Guyana ready to take on Haiti and Cayman Islands FIBA 3×3...

Timehri Hustlers dispatch Tiger Bay as Gold is...

Windies Masters announce squad for Americas Cup

Stormy Victory, Morning Colors stepping up for...

Region 7 Edition of CNOOC Petroleum Guyana...

Vergenoegen Secondary sweeps Region Three...

Features/Columnists

Raises and Recognition

High-Stakes Bid for OAS Secretary General post

Laws and boards

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Hotdog seller, 19, remanded for robbing Chinese shop owner

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]