Landscapist jailed for escaping from Police custody

…tells court he needed to go home to see wife, children

Landscapist Wazim Pereira of Lot 111 North Sophia, Georgetown was on Monday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on a charge of escaping from lawful custody.
The 27-year-old admitted that on August 19, 2018, while being in lawful custody at the Kitty Police Station pending a criminal charge, he escaped therefrom.
In admitting to the charge, the father of two told the court that on the day in question he was given $10,000 by a passerby who is known to him. He related that he gave the said amount to the officer in charge of the station at the time in order for him to be released on station bail.
“I give de big belly officer the 10 gran and she loose the handcuff and tell me to go. She tek me 10 gran; I ain’t lying! All I want you do for me, Your Worship, is to assist me and see what you can do. I will accept and bless whatever small sentence,” the man told the court.
After listening to Pereira’s explanation, Magistrate Latchman entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and remanded him to prison. However, he told the Magistrate, “Your Worship, me ain’t want all of that (referring to the adjournment). I want a small sentence, and I’m going be happy with that.”
When Magistrate Latchman asked Pereira why he escaped from the lock-up, he simply replied, “I needed to see my children; my wife and my children”.
According to the prosecution’s case, on August 19 at about 05:20h, the accused asked the Police officer to use the washroom, and when she took off the handcuffs from his hands, he pushed her to the ground and ran out of the station.
An alarm was raised, and the suspect was subsequently rearrested and charged.
After considering an early mitigation plea, the magistrate sentenced Pereira to 18 months’ imprisonment.