City Magistrate Geeta Chandan-Edmond passed sentence on Mohammed Ali, 28, on three counts of simple larceny and two counts of fraudulent conversion charges on Friday, February 06.
It was less than two months after being released from prison that the 28-year-old Security Guard was slapped with the charges.
Before handing down the sentence to Ali, the Magistrate weighed heavily on his probation report.
The report revealed that he had a troubled childhood coupled with an absence of a relationship with his mother, which still affects him. However, the welfare officer noted that a minor sentence would not be in Ali’s interest, since although he recently served a lengthy prison sentence and is a former inmate at the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), he resorted to crimes shortly after release every time.
“He is already known for his behaviour. If you place him on probation, he will have to report once every week for counselling, which will be inadequate for him. He needs to be kept in an enclosed institute with frequent counselling and monitoring,” the officer said, while advising the court that a long sentence will afford the defendant adequate guidance and help.
The Court heard too that since Ali had left jail last November, he accumulated over $190,000 by illegal means.
The Magistrate agreed that a lengthy sentence would give him time to himself: to think over his actions and rehabilitate.
She said, “Listening to your plea in mitigation I am sure you have real insight into the enormity of what you did and I believe that there is genuine remorse for what you did albeit that you were recently released from prison having served a lengthy period.”
In determining the appropriate sentence, she said she reflected on the fear, the harm and the betrayal which his conduct caused not only to the victims but to the society within whose midst Ali’s tactics were used to con people.
“The victims all unsuspecting acted out of kindness, your con tactics will have an adverse effect on them…will they be able to trust again?”
The Magistrate noted that there was a significant degree of planning and premeditation on Ali’s part. “I am amazed that you pass though security. You have left me to conclude that your acts were well orchestrated.”
Having regarded all the circumstances and the mitigating factors, the Court concluded that such is the gravity of his crimes that there was no suitable alternative to a prison sentence.
Ali was sentenced to two years on each simple larceny charge; those will run consecutively. For the counts of fraudulent conversion, he was ordered to pay $60,000 on each count; failure to pay which will result in one year imprisonment.
During his first arraignment, the Court heard that on January 12 at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown he stole Brandy Hazel’s Samsung Galaxy S4 valued $140,000 and Rehanna Abel’s $60,000 Samsung Tablet. The girls are Tutorial High School students.
It was further alleged that on January 14 at Charlotte Street, Georgetown Nalini Rambarack entrusted Ali with her $30,000 cellular phone to make a call and return it, but he fraudulently converted it to his own use and benefit.
The Court had also heard that the 28-year-old stole one gold chain valued $50,000 as well as $40,000 cash from Raywattie Outar on January 17 at the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) Main Branch on Robb Street.
Also while at GPOC that day, Latanie Ross entrusted him with her $30,000 BLU cellular phone to make a call and return it, but he fraudulently converted it to his own use and benefit.
It was reported that Ali attempted to hoodwink a bunch of Queen’s College first form students but his plot was cut short after suspicious students reported the matter to teachers and parents.
When the allegations were read, Ali, a resident of Lot 121 Second Street, Alberttown, Georgetown admitted his crimes and threw himself at the mercy of the court.
Ali asked the Magistrate to be merciful. He said he is the breadwinner of his family and after leaving jail last November, he has been struggling to land jobs.
He had said that employers are reluctant to hire him because of his criminal record. Ali broke down in tears and apologised to all the victims who were in court.
