Woman jailed for stealing rum

A WOMAN was jailed this morning for six months for stealing two bottles of rum on Old Year's Day.

Sally Ali, 50, of Chaguanas, wept in the San Fernando Magistrates' court when magistrate Alicia Chanka sentenced her to serve the term as simple imprisonment.

Ali pleaded guilty to larceny after which prosecutor PC Cleyon Seedan told Chankar that at about 5.50 pm, Ali went to Anand Low Price Supermarket in Tropical Plaza, Pointe-a-Pierre, where she picked up two bottles of White Oak rum.

She placed them in her handbag then walked out the store without paying, Seedan said. Estate Corporal Nicholas Rajnauth held her and laid a charge of larceny.

Ali pleaded with Chanka for leniency as she stood in the dock, saying she recently had one of her kidneys removed, is diabetic and hypertensive. The woman said that a few months ago, one of her daughters died. "I promise I will not do it again. This is the first and the last," Ali said.

Seedan handed Chanka the criminal record of Ali and the magistrate read it. She then reminded the woman who is a mother of six, that she had similar matters for larceny in San Fernando, Port of Spain, Sangre Grande and Tunapuna magisterial districts.

Chanka said, "Ma'am, you removed a kidney and you drinking. You saying it wouldn't happen again. But it happened in Sangre Grande, Tunapuna and Port of Spain. You are sentenced to six months’ simple imprisonment."

Ali began to weep as she was led out of the dock and escorted to the holding bay cells. Her daughter, who was seated in court, also began to cry.