A labourer who stole an air conditioning (AC) unit and accompanying copper tubing installed at the law office of attorney Glenn Hanoman was yesterday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
Ali Singh, 37, was sentenced after he admitted that on August 31, at King Street, Georgetown, he stole an air conditioning unit and copper tubing, all totalling $175,000, belonging to Glenn Hanoman.
When the charge was initially read to him at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Singh pleaded guilty but stated that he wanted to explain himself.
When given the chance, Singh told Magistrate Judy Latchman that he has “drinking problems” and that he and his wife had separated.
He then went on to say that he never stole the AC but that he was present at the time of the theft, which was committed by two other persons whom he alleged had tortured him. The defendant questioned how possible it would have been for him alone to lift and detach the unit from the building.
It was at this point that the court indicated a not guilty plea would be entered on Singh’s behalf owing to his explanation.
The unrepresented Singh, however, quickly interjected, objecting to the not guilty plea being recorded. He said that he has no one to care for or watch his interest and that he did not want to waste neither his, nor the court’s time.Magistrate Latchman, however, explained to Singh that the court could not accepted his guilty plea unless he had accepted what the charge alleged.
He then begged the court for lenience and pleaded guilty to the charge after it was re-read to him.
The prosecution’s facts stated that on the day in question, at about 3:30pm, Singh was seen removing the items mentioned in the charge from a section of the Maraj building on King Street, where Hanoman’s office is located.
According to Prosecutor Michael Grant, Singh was seen removing the items by a passer-by, who took photos as Singh committed the crime and later handed them over to police at the Brickdam Police Station. Grant said that public-spirited persons held on to Singh, who at the time had the copper tubing in his possession.
The court was informed by Grant that Singh is a known character to the police and has been charged before for a number of other similar offences.
The prosecutor said too that Singh did not give the court his correct name as he had supplied a different name on previous occasions. When asked, however, he told the presiding magistrate that his name is “Ali Singh.”
Meanwhile, when given a chance to speak, Hanoman said that because the tubing was removed, the remaining four AC units were unable to function and it has become difficult for him to work in his office. Hanoman opined that since the defendant has alcohol problems, “the best thing is for him to stay in prison for a while so he can detox.”
Hanoman suggested that if he is allowed to stay on the streets, “he may steal everyday” to support his drinking habit.
Singh was subsequently informed that he will be spending the next 12 months in prison, for which he expressed gratitude.
