Father of 5 jailed for armed robberies

A father of five was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery along with possession of illegal gun and ammunition.
Raheem Abdul, a vendor of Lot 17 Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, admitted to the four charges when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Raheem Abdul

The first charge stated that on August 17, 2019, at Lombard Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Amos Ramcharan of $70,000 and a phone valued at $42,000. The court further heard that on the same day and at the same location, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Qumar (only name given) of a phone valued at $39,000.
The third charge stated that on August 17, 2019, at Broad Street, Charlestown, he had in his possession three live rounds of .38 ammunition when he was not the holder of a firearm licence. The last charge stated that on August 17, 2019, at Broad Street, Charlestown, he had in his possession a .38 revolver when he was not the holder of firearm licence.
Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that Abdul and the victims are known to each other since they are vendors on Lombard Street, Georgetown.
The prosecutor informed the court that at about 03:30h on August 17, the victims were plying their trade on Lombard Street, when Abdul and two other individuals, who were armed with handguns, approached them. According to the prosecutor, the men pointed the guns at the victims’ heads and demanded that they hand over their valuables.
The court heard that Abdul began demanding more money from Ramcharan and placed the gun to the man’s head and started a countdown while threatening him.
In fear for his life, the vendor then led Abdul to his bus and handed over a purse containing cash and documents.
After retrieving the items, Abdul along with his accomplices made good their escape on bicycles. The incident was reported to the police and based on information received, the police swooped down at a house in Broad Street, Georgetown, where they arrested Abdul.
A search was also conducted at the house and the stolen articles along with the gun and matching rounds were found in his possession.
He was subsequently arrested and positively identified by the victims. Magistrate McLennan sentenced Abdul to three years for each of the robbery charges. He was then sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and fined $50,000 for the illegal firearm possession charge along with two years’ imprisonment and a $50,000 fine for illegal ammunition possession.
However, the sentences will run concurrently.