A bus conductor, was yesterday sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment for robbing two Mashramani revellers during the parade.
Dwayne Barker, 35, of McDoom, East Bank Demerara, yesterday stood before Magistrate Fabayo Azore and pleaded guilty with explanation to two charges. The first charge stated that on February 23, at Brickdam, he stole an Apple iphone, valued at $80,000, a purse valued at $2,000, and $2,000 cash from Caroline Issacs; while the second charge stated that on the same day he stole, a camera valued at $17,000, a purse valued at $3,000, and $3,000 cash from Jessica Punin.
The court was told by the Police Prosecutor that the virtual complainants were revellers in a Mash band during the annual celebrations. The women left their purses containing their belongings in the tray of a truck, and while they were walking, they saw the defendant removing their items. The prosecutor said that when the women approached Barker and questioned him about removing the items, he told them that he was taking their items to a safer place inside of the truck. According to the prosecution, after the parade, the women went to check for their belongings, but there were missing. The prosecutor told the court that a report was subsequently made, and the accused was later arrested by the police. The items which belonged to the virtual complainants were not recovered.
Barker, when asked by Magistrate Azore, his explanation for the offence, told the court that he was intoxicated when he removed the items. Barker, who explained to the court that he is a father of three, begged the magistrate for leniency.
Magistrate Azore, before handing down her sentence, told Barker that his defence was weak, but she would still be lenient with him. The magistrate sentenced the accused to six months in prison for each of the charges. The magistrate ordered that the six month sentences run consecutively.
