Noting the prevalence of youths before the court on criminal offences, a Siparia magistrate yesterday granted bail totalling $450,000 to three schoolboys charged with beating and robbing a security officer at their school. Senior Magistrate Armina Deonarinesingh also ordered the three boys — two aged 16 and the other age 13 — not to have any communication directly or indirectly with the victim. The incident took place on December 2 at the secondary school.
It is alleged that the three boys beat and robbed security guard Akesh Monroe of a $450 gold chain. They were charged by PC Jacobs with robbery with violence. Attorney Charlene Kalloo, who represented the 13-year-old, said he was in Form One and lived with his parents, who were in court. She said he is also a first-time offender. Sean Sobers, who represented the other two students, said they were in Forms Three and Five and their fathers were in court.
He said the boys, of Fyzabad and South Oropouche, had no criminal record.The attorneys asked for reasonable bail. The magistrate, however, noted the prevalence of young men appearing in court on very serious criminal offences. Court prosecutor Sgt Sheldon Ablacksingh did not object to bail but noted the serious nature of the offence which was allegedly committed on a law enforcement officer.
On the request of the prosecutor, the magistrate warned them to stay away from the victim or else their bail would be revoked and they would be sent to the Youth Training Centre. Sobers also complained to the magistrate about a video relating to the incident being aired on the electronic media at night. He asked the magistrate whether she could do something to stop the media houses from showing the video which he said was highly prejudicial to the students, especially since the matter was before the court.
The magistrate said all she could do was to make announcement that the media needed to be careful since airing of the video could be prejudicial to the defendants. Each student was granted $150,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to January 12.