THIRTY-one-year-old Narvin Arjune badly wanted to eat a mixed chowmein. He had no means of purchasing the Chinese dish, so he watched as his neighbour left for church, before breaking into her kitchen and removing the ingredients with which to prepare it.He confessed to committing the crime before Magistrate Sherdel Marcus-Isaacs at the New Amsterdam Court, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of simple larceny.
Arjune, called ‘Old Scar’, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment. Police Sergeant Phillip Sherrif, prosecuting, said the repeat offender on June 18 last went into the home of Shelly Williams, and stole therein a bottle of cooking oil, a packet of sausages, five pounds of chicken, and two bottles of tomato ketchup.
The virtual complainant was at her place of worship, when she received a phone call informing her that ‘Old Scar’ was seen leaving her home at Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice.
However, when questioned by the Magistrate, Arjune said he cooked the items, as he was hungry. According to him, he entered the house by constantly rocking the rotting wooden window bar.
He said that once that was removed, he (stole) the items which were left on a table, apparently to be used by the complainant when she returned home.
In an apparent plea for mercy, Arjune said he sells coconuts for a living, but purchasers would undervalue his nuts and pay him little or nothing.
According to him, he often sold coconuts to the virtual complainant, but all she would give him is “Two cake and a lil juice. Sometimes they does give me a five-hundred dollar.”
He however accepted that he was wrong to do what he did, and asked for a six-month sentence. But, Police Prosecutor Sherriff requested twelve months, to which the court agreed.

By Jeune Bailey-VanKeric