“I’m guilty, guilty, guilty, your honour,” an impatient Edward Rahim declared to Magistrate Judy Latchman yesterday.
The visibly distressed Rahim had sat impatiently waiting for his case to be called and upon hearing his name he jumped up and kept on proclaiming his guilt.
Magistrate Latchman instructed Rahim to behave himself, explaining that she had to read the charges first before he could offer a plea. She then asked him to be quiet so he could listen to the charges and plead after.
After being read charges that he stole zinc sheets and threatened to kill a man, Rahim was eager to proclaim his guilt and in a solemn tone he begged the magistrate to get the matter over with quickly. He asked the magistrate for lenience because he has a daughter.
Rahim, 43, who said he had no place of residence, previously appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Friday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was then remanded to prison.
During a recess yesterday, he told Prosecutor Joel Ricknauth in a frail voice, “They beat me up bad in deh,” referring to the Camp Street Jail. “When ya go in jail, nobady ain’t kay, they’d kill ya an all,” he added.
Prosecutor Ricknauth told the court that on October 9, at Holmes Street, Georgetown, Rahim had a hammer in his hand and threatened to kill Paul James. The court heard that Rahim had stolen zinc sheets that were around James’ fence. Ricknauth added that James reported to the police that Rahim and others were destroying his fence and stealing zinc sheets that were around the fence. The police investigated and a subsequent arrest was made. James was not present at court to testify against the accused Rahim.
When Magistrate Latchman asked the prosecutor if he was aware of Rahim having any previous convictions, he told the court he was aware of a previous conviction but was unsure about the nature of the offence or when Rahim was convicted. Magistrate Latchman then asked Rahim, who said, “yes.” He had been charged a few years ago for disorderly conduct.
The magistrate subsequently fined him $50,000 or a month in prison for the stealing of the zinc sheets and $20,000 for the threatening behaviour.
