Taxi driver charged with robbing passengers

Oliver Benjamin Sampson, 42, of King Street, Princes Town appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John, in the First Court, charged with a total of four offences. Three of the offences alleged that on Tuesday at Factory Road, Reform Village in Gasparillo, he together with other persons, armed with a firearm, robbed three passengers of a quantity of cash and personal valuables. These charges were indictable and the accused man was not called upon to enter pleas. The fourth charge against Sampson - possession of a device for use of a dangerous drug - was laid summarily and he pleaded guilty. PC Gervais laid the charges.

Yesterday, court prosecutor Cleydon Seedan told the court that on Wednesday at Guaracara/Tabaquite Road in Harmony Hall, Gasparillo, police officers intercepted a car driven by Sampson.

They searched the vehicle and found the device. Defence attorney Ainsley Lucky, who represented Sampson, told the court that his client is married and works as a “taxi operator”. On the charge of possession of the device, the magistrate fined him $200 or 14 days in jail.

On the armed robbery charges the magistrate granted him $100,000 bail to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace with a $35,000 cash alternative.

The magistrate adjourned the case to September 23.