A MAN who told the court that he committed a series of criminal offences to “help raise” money to buy clothes for his children, was, on Wednesday, August 21, 2019, sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by the Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Raahim Abdool, a vendor of Broad Street, Charlestown, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to the four charges when they were read to him.
Particulars of the first charge stated that, on August 17, 2019, at Lombard Street, Georgetown, Abdool, while in the company of others, and armed with a gun, robbed Amos Rambhajan of $70,000 cash and a phone valued at $42,000.

The second charge stated that, on the same day and place, he robbed Kumar of a phone valued $25,000 and $14,000 cash.

The third charge stated that, on August 17, 2019, at Broad Street, Charlestown, he had 3 live rounds of .38 ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence.
The last charge stated that, on the same day and place, he had a .38 revolver without being the holder of a firearm licence.

Police prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that Rambhajan and Kumar are vendors at Lombard Street and, on the day in question, around 03:30 hours they were approached by Abdool and two other males.

The men held the two vendors at gun-point and demanded that they handed over their valuables. The victims became scared for their lives and handed over all of their possession.

Abdool then demanded more money from Rambhajan and placed his gun to the man’s head and started to count to five.
Rambhajan took the robbers to a vehicle which his wife was in and she handed over her bag which contained cash and a cell phone. The men then made good their escape on a motorcycle.
Mansfield also told the court that the victims made a report at the Brickdam Police Station.
The police, acting on the information received, went to Abdool’s home at Broad Street, Charlestown, and when they approached him (Abdool) he disposed of the firearm under a house.

A rank retrieved the firearm, in the presence of Abdool who was arrested and admitted to having the firearm in his possession. Abdool was identified by Rambhajan and Kumar as the person who robbed them.

“I must apologize for what I have done. I only borrowed the gun to help raise more money to buy clothes for my children” Abdool said.

Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan sentenced Abdool to serve two years for each of the two charges relating to firearm and ammunition possession and three years for each of the robbery charges. The sentences will run concurrently and Abdool will only spend three years behind bars.