Special Constable Dennison Benjamin who stole a camera, a DVD player and US$20 from the home of Magistrate Chandra Sohan on the Corentyne was sentenced yesterday to four years, six months after he pleaded guilty to three charges of larceny from a dwelling house.
Benjamin, an ex-policeman attached to the Central Police Station, Berbice was assigned to the magistrate’s home at Palmyra Village, Corentyne when Hemwattie Beharry, a maid, reported to her employer, Chandrawattie Sohan, wife of the magistrate, that US$20 was missing from her bag which was left on a table under her employer’s home.
Police Inspector Satrohan Dayaram prosecuting in the Reliance Court, before Magistrate Geeta Persid-Edmond, said that on July 23 last, Beharry had five US$10 notes in her purse and had told the convict who was the guard on duty that her bag had money.
However, when she prepared to leave her workplace at 2 pm that day, she checked for the notes and realized that two of the five ten-dollar bills [American currency] were missing. On enquiring from Benjamin, he confessed to stealing the money and promised to repay later.
The matter was reported to the Central Police Station.
Subsequently a party of police headed by Detective Corporal Darmendra Indarpaul went to the New Street, Cumberland, East Canje residence of Benjamin where they recovered a Canon camera and a DVD player which were reported missing from the magistrate’s home on April 28 last and July 3 respectively.
Benjamin confessed to the allegations in a written statement and was subsequently charged.
In reply to questions by the magistrate Benjamin replied, “I am sorry for what I did.”
However, Magistrate Persid-Edmond told the prisoner, “I will not extend mercy as I too am a victim of similar circumstances.”
The magistrate imposed two years each for the charges in relation to the camera and DVD player, and six months for the theft of the US currency and the sentences will run consecutively.
