Gambler loses big time

GAMBLING addict Arnold Roberts lost big time yesterday when he was jailed for three years for robbing an old woman as soon as he had lost money at a casino.

Roberts, 33, of Penal admitted to senior magistrate Jo-Anne Connor in the San Fernando magistrates’ court that he has a gambling problem. He pleaded guilty to robbing Basdeo Seemungal, 70, on Debe Junction on September 25, of $3,400.

It was at about 2 pm and she had just withdrawn the cash from an Automatic Teller Machine. Roberts confessed to Connor that he and his friend had just lost their money at a nearby casino when they saw Seemungal withdrawing the money.

Police prosecutor Cleyon Seedan told Connor Seemungal was walking towards Debe junction when Roberts pushed her onto the road. He then grabbed her handbag and escaped in a Nissan Almera.

PC Shivon Ghingooree investigated and confronted Roberts, who replied, “Yeah, I really robbed that lady after me and my partner see she taking out the money.” The prosecutor said that Roberts is currently serving two years for larceny.

As he stood in the dock, Connor reminded Roberts that in 2016, he was jailed for three years for robbery; a forged currency charge has been pending since 2015; he was fined $3,500 in 2014 for larceny; and fined in 2012 for having a weapon.

Connor asked, “Sir, you have a grandmother? Oh, she is roughly the same age as the lady you robbed? So why did you rob the lady?” Roberts answered, “That day, me and my partner loss money in the roulette gambling. We went and rob the woman.” Connor ordered him to serve the three years on completion of the two years he is now serving.