Although he will have to spend Christmas in jail, Balkaran Persaud, 43, repeatedly thanked acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry yesterday after he was sentenced to two months imprisonment for stealing a bicycle.
Last Friday the labourer stole a bicycle valued $16,000 from the Virtual Complainant (VC) Mark (only name given).
After the accused pleaded guilty to the charge of simple larceny, he added, “Me and de man is friend and I does wuk with he. At the time meh bicycle was punctured so I borrow he own, but I did not ask him before I tek it… so I guilty to the charge.”
In presenting the police facts to the court the prosecutor said that on the day in question the VC while watching TV heard a strange noise coming from his yard. Harvey said that the man then made checks and he observed the accused picking up the bike. The VC raised an alarm but the accused hurriedly rode away. The prosecutor further said that the VC gave chase behind Persaud and he was apprehended and handed over to the police.
After listening to the facts the magistrate asked the accused whether he had any previous convictions and the man related that “I had a charge of drug trafficking.”
In handing down the sentence both the mitigating and aggravating circumstances were taken into consideration and the accused was informed that he will serve two months behind bars.
“Thanks Your Worship, thanks Your Worship… I gonna go and spend me lil time,” the man uttered while he was escorted out of the courtroom.
