20-yr-old mother of two steals $32,000 from granny
– will spend next seven days in prison
A 20-year-old mother of two who stole $32,000 from her grandmother-in-law during a visit to the elderly woman’s house, was on Tuesday sentenced to seven days imprisonment. Radha Deochand, a resident of Muneer Khan Scheme, Craig Village on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) had made an appearance before Magistrate Leslie Sobers in the Providence Magistrate’s Court, to answer a charge of simple larceny which she committed on Rosalind Narine on August 17, last.
The court was told that the prisoner and the virtual complainant live at the same address but in separate houses.
On the day in question, Deochand had visited the old lady and when the woman went to take a bath, she removed the money from a bag in which the elderly woman had kept it.
Deochand admitted to the offence and, when asked by the magistrate why she did it, said her baby was sick and she wanted to take the child to the hospital.
On being told that she had taken the child to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the magistrate retorted, ”you do not need $32,000 to take the baby to the GPHC;  medical services there are free.”
Asked who she lived with and who was present there (in court) with her, the prisoner said her mother-in-law, her husband and two children, one just over three years old and the other a two months old baby.
On being summoned by Magistrate Sobers, the mother-in-law said her son works and although she does not cook for them, she is aware that the daughter-in-law cooks everyday.
“So you are not being starved… you were motived by greed to steal the old lady’s money,” the magistrate remarked, looking in the direction of Deochand.
Deochand then informed the court that she has the money in her possession and is ready to make full restitution to the old lady. This prompted Magistrate Sobers to remark, “you have just saved yourself one year in jail.”
The magistrate ordered the money handed over to the old lady who, due to her feeble state, had to be provided with a chair to sit next to the dock while the matter was being tried.

The Magistrate evoked  laughter in the courtroom when he advised the old lady that she will now have to find a new hiding place for her money so that “this culprit” will not find it.

Deochand was then told that she will have to pay a fine of $25,000, but when she said she had no more money, Magistrate Sobers ordered that she serve seven days in prison.