western bureau

An American citizen who was accused of using a letter to rob a bank in Montego Bay, St James, was remanded recently when he appeared in court.

John Croswell pleaded not guilty to the simple larceny and intent to extort property through threats when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court. He insisted that he acted under duress when he allegedly went into the bank in Montego Bay and allegedly robbed a cashier.

The accused, who was ordered to get psychiatric evaluation, told Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry that he was forced by two armed men to carry a threatening letter to the bank in order to get money from the financial institution.

Guns

"Your Honour, two men showed me guns and forced me to go to the bank," Croswell explained. The Brooklyn resident allegedly went into the bank on October 25 and showed a letter to a cashier, demanding that she hand over money to him or she would be harmed.

It is reported that the cashier gave him $150 and told him that she was going to get some more money. Croswell is alleged to have become suspicious and ran from the building. He was pointed out at an identification parade on November 17.

He explained that while he was in a parking lot on the 'Hip Strip' and was speaking to a relative abroad, two men overheard and, based on his conversation, forced him to carry out the offence.

RM Henry, unsure of his mental state, had him remanded for psychiatric evaluation. He is scheduled to return to court on December 18.