“I borrowed a gun and tek a chance and robbed those persons to provide for my five children,” were the words of a 25-year-old man who pleaded guilty to several charges, including armed robbery and illegal gun possession.
Raheem Abdul, a vendor of 17 Broad Street, Charlestown, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment but will spend five years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to his four charges. He appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The first charge stated that on August 17 at Lombard Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Amos Ramcharan of $70,000 in cash and a phone valued at $42,000.
It was further alleged that on the same day and at the same location while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Qumar of a phone valued at $39,000.
The third charge stated that on August 17 at Broad Street, Charlestown, he had in his possession three live rounds of .38 ammunition when he was not the owner of a firearm licence enforced at the time.
The last charge stated that on the August 17 at Broad Street, Charlestown, he had in his possession a .38 revolver when he was not the owner of a firearm licence enforced at the time.
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield stated that the victims and the defendant are known to each other since they all work as vendors on Lombard Street.
The prosecutor told the court that on the day in the day in question at around 03:30 hrs, both victims were on Lombard Street plying their trade when they were approached by Abdul and two other individuals who were all armed with handguns at the time.
The men pointed the guns at the victims’ heads and demanded that they hand over their valuables. The victims, fearful for their lives, complied with the thieves’ demands.
The prosecutor added that Abdul began demanding more money from Ramcharan and placed the gun to the man’s head before beginning to count to five. In response, Ramcharan fearfully led Abdul to his bus and handed over a purse containing cash and documents.
Abdul and his two accomplices then made good their escapes on pedal cycles along Lombard Street.
The matters were then reported and, following an investigation, the police went to Broad Street where they made contact with Abdul.
A search was then conducted and the stolen articles along with the gun and matching rounds were found in his possession.
He was arrested and taken into custody where he was positively identified by the victims as the person who robbed them.
When asked by the magistrate why he committed the offences, Adul said, “I went and borrowed the gun to rob the persons in order to provide for my five children. I apologise for what I did. I was just taking a chance; please be lenient with me.”
Chief Magistrate McLennan, after listening to the facts, sentenced Abdul to three years’ imprisonment for each of the robberies. He was also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and fined $50,000 for the illegal firearm possession and two years’ imprisonment and fined $50,000 for the illegal ammunition possession.
The sentences will run concurrently so Abdul will only be spending five years behind bars.
