Man accused of robbing northside bank twice denied bail

By Lethbridge Herald on June 16, 2023.

Delon Shurtz
Lethbridge Herald

A 51-year-old Lethbridge man accused of robbing the same bank twice in as  many months, has been denied bail and will remain in custody pending trial or a detention review in a higher court.

Justice Gregory Maxwell detained Jamie Gerard Bagu following the conclusion of the accused’s bail hearing Thursday in Lethbridge court of justice. Bagu, who attended court by CCTV from the Lethbridge Correctional Centre, showed little reaction to the judge’s decision and was simply returned to his cell until his next court appearance in a week.

Bagu had hoped to be released from remand custody on June 1 when his lengthy bail hearing began, but Maxwell adjourned his decision to allow him time to consider submissions by the Crown and defence. 

Evidence presented during the bail hearing, as well as the reasons for the judge’s decision, are subject to a publication ban.

Lethbridge lawyer Greg White had suggested on June 1 that Bagu could be released under several specific conditions, and that Bagu’s wife could act as surety, and as such would supervise Bagu while he is out on bail, and promise an amount of money to the court if he doesn’t follow one or more of the bail conditions or doesn’t show up to court when required.

Bagu is charged with two counts each of robbery with a firearm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, use of a firearm while committing an offence, and disguised with intent, and one count each of assault with a weapon and unsafe storage of a firearm.

The charges stem from incidents on March 17 and April 11, 2023 at CIBC in the 500 block of 13 Street North.

Police reported in April that in both cases a man entered the bank, pointed a firearm at employees and demanded money, then fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured during either robbery.

A vehicle with distinctive features was identified after it was recorded by a video surveillance camera leaving the area of the second robbery at a high rate of speed.  Police later found the vehicle and identified a suspect.

On April 25 a man was arrested without incident and police searched two vehicles and a home on Waterton Road South.

 During the search police seized two firearms, including a handgun consistent with the weapon used in the robberies, Canadian currency with serial numbers that matched money stolen during the first robbery and clothing consistent with surveillance images of the robber.

Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter