2 jailed in Tableland robbery

A MAGISTRATE yesterday sentenced two men, ages 18 and 22, to 12 years in jail for Saturday’s robbery at Tableland where, during a shoot-out with police, a third accomplice died.

The two appeared before Princes Town magistrate Nalini Singh and pleaded guilty to five charges — having a gun and ammunition and three counts of robbery with violence.

Both men, who live at Old Train Line in St Margaret’s Village in Claxton Bay, apologised for doing the crime. The magistrate sentenced them both to one year for having the gun and four years for each robbery charge. The sentences are to run concurrently which means the men would each serve four years in jail.

Sgt Anil Sankar and PC Caleb Ramkissoon, of the Tableland police station, laid the charges and Sgt Shazeed Mohammed prosecuted.

Based on a police report, at about 10 pm on Saturday, the duo and three other armed men went into a house at Naparima/Mayaro Road in Tableland and announced a robbery. They tied up a 54-year-old man who was alone in the house located on the same compound as Partap’s Supermarket. The business is owned by a relative who was not at home.

The bandits ransacked the house and forced the man to open a safe. They bagged the money in TT and US currencies, as well as jewellery and other valuables.

As they were about to leave, the owner and a female relative arrived, not knowing the bandits were inside. The gunmen accosted the two, dragged them inside and beat them. Pointing guns at the owner, the gunmen made him open the supermarket.

Neighbours realised that something was amiss and contacted the police. When police arrived there was a shootout. When the gunfire ended, police found the body of Christian Young who was also from Claxton Bay. Police arrested the two, one hiding in the ceiling of the supermarket and the other in the nearby bush. The remaining two men were able to escape.

Police also found two loaded guns and ammunition and some of the loot.

Up to late yesterday, Southern Division police were searching for the two that escaped.