“Happy New Year” – Magistrate tells pickpocket before jailing him

Twenty-four-year-old Akeem Ishmael was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment by Magistrate Faith McGusty after he pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery charge when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday.
The charge stated that on December 23, 2019, while being armed with a knife, he attempted to rob Jose Tamblante.
Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh told the court that Tamblante was doing his Christmas shopping and as he made his way to the minibus park, he felt a hand in his back pocket. The VC, however, held onto the suspect’s hand and a scuffle ensued.
It was then that the suspect whipped out a knife from his pocket but was wrestled to the ground by the Virtual Complainant, who managed to take the knife away. A police mobile unit was summoned and the man was arrested.
In a plea of mitigation before sentencing, the man claimed that his financial circumstances led to him attempting to steal the VC’s wallet and begged the court for leniency.
However, Prosecutor Singh informed the court that Ishmael was previously charged for a similar offence and had to compensate the victim. The Magistrate wished the suspect a “Happy New Year” and sent him off to jail.