“Listen me ain’t get time fuh waste. Give me a small sentence and I will accept and bless,” those were the words of a labourer who pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping lawful custody.
He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.
Wazim Pereira, 21, of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on August 19, 2018 at Georgetown, while being in lawful custody at the Kitty Police Station, pending a larceny of cattle charge, he escaped.
Pereira appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
In his explanation to the court Pereira stated, “My Worship, while I was in custody a female officer told me to gave her $10,000 which I did and she loose my handcuff and send me away.”
Based on his explanation to the court, the Magistrate entered a not guilty plead on his behalf citing that he claimed he was told to leave the station by the female officer who allegedly collected his money.
Soon after, she remanded him to prison for the offence.
A visibly upset Pereira upon hearing that he was remanded to prison, said “Look me ain’t able with this. I escaped because I needed to go home and see my wife and children.”
The Magistrate then re-read the charge to Pereira and he pleaded guilty.
Facts Presented by Police Prosecutor, Quinn Harris stated that August 19, last, Pereira was in custody when he asked to use the washroom.
The officer then unlocked his handcuffs and he pushed the officer down and ran out the station.
An investigation was then carried out and the defendant was rearrested at his home and taken back into custody.
The Magistrate, after listening to the Prosecutor’s facts, told Pereira that based on his early guilty plea and the need to prohibit others from contemplating the offence,she sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment.
Pereira upon hearing that he was sentenced to 18 months stated “ gave thanks. I accept and bless.”
