Gold miner accused of $3.3M armed robbery remanded

A 34-year-old gold miner was on Friday remanded to prison for a $3.3M armed robbery committed in April.

Raphel Watts appeared before City Magistrate Rhondel Weever and pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on April 24, 2021, at Hadfield Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Towanna Ammon of cash, 10 pennyweights of raw gold and other items amounting to $3.3M.

Watts was represented by attorney-at-law Dexter Smartt who made an application for reasonable bail but police prosecutor Christopher Morris objected to bail based on the nature of the offence and the quantum involved.

The Magistrate upheld the prosecution’s objection and remanded Watts to prison until October 15, 2021.

It is alleged that on the day in question the victim was in the company of another and had purchased raw gold. They subsequently went to a Chinese restaurant located between Hadfield Street and Louisa Row but were held at gunpoint allegedly by Watts and another male, who were on an XR motorcycle.

The men took away a bag containing the articles mentioned in the charge and escaped. The matter was reported to the police station and based on investigation, Watts was recently arrested.