Magistrate warns illegal liquor vendor

An accused illegal liquor vendor received a stern warning from a Port of Spain magistrate today to be a better example to his infant son, when he appeared in court.

The accused, 28-year-old Christian Lindow, appeared before magistrate Blake Antoine in the Port of Spain Magistrates Fifth Court on charges of marijuana possession and selling alcohol without a licence at the Port of Spain market on Saturday.

Responding to questions from Antoine on his personal life, Lindow said he left school at 17 and had been selling at the market since. He said he was in a common-law relationship and had a four-month-old son.

She asked what example he intended to set for his son and called on him to be a better father.

"How will you motivate him to do better if that's your conduct – being arrested for selling alcohol illegally? He will want to follow in your footsteps one of these days, you know."

Lindow said he would do his best to steer his son in the right direction.

He was fined $1,000 for the possession of marijuana, but the charge of illegal alcohol sale was dismissed, as Blake said there were "multiple errors" in the wording of the charge.

Two other men were charged for selling alcohol illegally. They appeared before magistrate Kerri Honore in the 4C court. Anthony Hetnarine, 40, of Aranguez and Jagan Mohan, 58, pleaded not guilty.

They were both granted own bail of $5,000 each.

Port of Spain City Police led by Supt Glenn Charles and Cpls John and McShine arrested the men on Saturday at around 5 am.

The alcohol, which includes several cases of beers, puncheon and rum, was valued at over $5,000 and is expected to be auctioned off.