Alleged robber granted bail

WESTERN BUREAU:A St James man who allegedly robbed a vendor of $2,500 was offered bail when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday.

Twenty-year-old Roshano Chantio of a Llandilo address in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland, is charged with simple larceny committed against Beverly Beckford. He is to return to court for trial on May 3.

Allegations are that on March 6 at approximately 1:40 p.m., Beckford was operating a vending cart along Gloucester Avenue in Montego Bay when Chantio approached the cart and said, "Police!" He then proceeded to search the cart while claiming to look for ganja.

Chantio reportedly found Beckford's handbag and took $2,500 from it before running across the street and fleeing the scene in a taxi. However, Beckford followed Chantio and later pointed him out to a police officer. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

In court, Chantio told Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tai that he took the money because Beckford, who was not present in court, owed him for ganja she had bought from him.

"She (Beckford) buy marijuana from me, and that's just the value of the marijuana," said Beckford.

"We are not getting into that," Tai admonished him. "What kind of work do you do?"

"I'm an auto mechanic," said Chantio.

"Do you work for yourself, or do you work for somebody?" asked Tai.

"I work for my babymother's father," explained Chantio.

Meanwhile, the prosecution told the court that it would be calling on three witnesses to give testimony against Chantio, however, the witnesses were not present at court.

"I'm going to offer you bail in the sum of $100,000 with one or two sureties, and you will report at the Ramble Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.," Tai told Chantio.

"You are to stay away from the complainant in this matter," the magistrate added.