Jay Billy
JR Tipengeni
AFTER a viral video surfaced showing a group of individuals assaulting a person inside a vehicle, the Department of Public Safety announced on Saturday evening that it had obtained arrest warrants for five robbery suspects: two adults and three juveniles.
They have been charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault and battery, robbery, and disturbing the peace.
Their victim was a taxi driver, and the incident occurred Tuesday evening in Koblerville.
Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio has set bail at $50,000 for each of the defendants.
DPS said the adult defendants are Jay Billy, 20, and JR Tipengeni, a.k.a., “Awatan,” 19.
The three male juveniles are 15 years old.
On Friday, DPS sought the community’s assistance regarding a robbery incident that was reported on Tuesday at around 8:35 p.m. at Coral Ocean Resort in Koblerville.
Based on a preliminary investigation, a group of five males had called for a taxi service at the Cool Laundry in Fina Sisu, Assistant Chief of Police Simon Manacop said.
“A taxi operator later arrived and picked up the five males who requested to be dropped off at a pavilion located in the beach area of…Coral Ocean Resort,” he added.
“Officers learned from the taxi operator that when they arrived in the beach area…, one of the occupants used the seat belt to choke him while others started punching his face and head. The operator was able to run away and reach another pavilion where he sought assistance from people who were at the pavilion to call for police. The victim sustained injuries to his face and was later transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation for treatment,” Manacop said.
“Officers further learned that the perpetrators were able to take the victim’s cell phones and cash that was secured in a fanny pack,” Manacop said.
According to DPS, all the suspects have been apprehended and are now in the custody of the Department of Corrections.
