Freeport man gets bail for robbing PH taxi driver

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A 31-year-old man from Freeport has been granted $200,000 bail after appearing in court for an armed robbery of a PH taxi driver.

Raffick Ali was placed on bail when he appeared virtually before Magistrate Adrian Darmanie, yesterday morning.

According to the summary of the evidence in the case, the robbery is alleged to have taken place last Friday in Chaguanas.

The driver reportedly told police that he was soliciting passengers when he was approached by a woman, who expressed interest in hiring him to take her to Freeport.

The woman claimed that she had to ask a friend for the money and walked away. The driver was immediately approached by two men, who robbed him of his $1,000 gold ring and $1,180 in cash, which he accumulated from plying his car for hire for three days.

Both men ran away but Ali was arrested by police shortly after.

Presenting a bail application on Ali’s behalf, his lawyer Bhimal Maharajh noted that he had been fined in the past for marijuana possession but not for any violent crimes.

As part of his bail conditions, Ali was ordered to report to the Freeport Police Station once weekly. Darmanie also imposed a curfew between 9 pm and 6 am every day for the duration of the case.

Ali is scheduled to reappear in court on February 9.