Man robs ATM user

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque condemned the actions of police officers who gave bail to a Corporate Area man who went into an automated teller machine (ATM) and robbed a customer of $10,000.

"I am going to do what the Half-Way Tree police should've done, now you're remanded in custody. We cannot have these sort of offences so prevalent. It's not just a robbery just so, is a robbery in circumstances, where soon after, in the aftermath of it, the complainant points out this man, and say him hold knife to me, make me go inna ATM and draw money," the senior jurist expressed.

Cole-Montaque was peeved when it was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that the defendant, Romaine Finnikin, was offered bail on the charge of robbery with aggravation. However, Finnikin did not attend his court date and a bench warrant was issued for him. He was taken into custody last week.

"This is a serious matter," Cole-Montaque stressed.

Prosecutors contend that on February 27, Finnikin was armed with a knife and went into an ATM and forced the complainant to withdraw the money. Finnikin received the monies and later that day, he was apprehended by the police. The money was found in his possession.

"Me did have a matter before the court and me tell him [the victim] to help me with paying the fine," Finnikin explained. But his explanation was not sufficient for the judge.

He pleaded guilty to robbery with aggravation and was remanded in custody until March 22, when he is to be sentenced. Finnikin was also made the subject of a fingerprint order.

- T.T.