Homeless man jailed

A HOMELESS man with 24 previous convictions was arrested by police with a quantity of drugs and a device used to smoke cocaine. He was yesterday sentenced to 12 months in jail.

Ramnanan Goolcharan, 53, is also on a separate, unrelated joint charge with Perseverance brothers Maxwell and Stephon Augustine, 22 and 28, of breaking into a flour mill in Point Lisas and stealing a large quantity of equipment and tools valued $254,750.

The breaking and larceny charges were laid indictable by PC Visham Ramoutar and the three men were not called upon to plead. The matter was heard before magistrate Cheron Raphael in the Couva Court. The charge alleges the brothers and Goolcharan stole a blower, fogging machine, heavy duty scales, sewing machines, cutting torches, welding cables, microwave, fire extinguishers, water pumps, tools and electrical items from the bakery.

The items were discovered missing on July 8. A team of police including PC Ramoutar conducted investigations and the trio were arrested on July 12.

The court heard when Goolcharan was searched police found a quantity of cocaine in his pants pocket along with a device used to smoke. He pleaded guilty to charges relating to the cocaine and smoking implement find. Goolcharan was sentenced to six months with hard labour on each charge.

On the charge of factory breaking and larceny, he was refused bail. Magistrate Raphael granted the Augustine brothers $250,000 bail to be approved by a Clerk of the Peace. They were also ordered to report weekly to the Couva Police Station.

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