Man fined $200 for setting dog on fire

A 32-YEAR-OLD Penal man, who killed a stray dog by burning it alive, threw himself at the court’s mercy Friday and pleaded guilty to his crime. Narine Ragoonath, of Murray Trace, admitted guilt in the Siparia Magistrates’ Court, to the charge of cruelty to an animal. Ragoonath had initially pleaded innocent before Magistrate Maria Busby-Earl Caddle, sitting in the Second Court. But Friday, after the court heard testimonies from two prosecution witnesses, a neighbour of the defendant, and a preacher who was on his way to church when the incident occurred, Ragoonath threw in the towel and pleaded guilty. He was defended by attorney Roopnarine Rambachan. Magistrate Busby-Earl Caddle ordered Ragoonath to pay a fine of $200 or serve 30 days in prison.

The maximum fine is a $400 fine or two months’ imprisonment. Cpl Bernard, leading the prosecution’s case, said the incident occurred around 10 am on July 28, 2002, when a stray dog walked into the premises of Ragoonath’s house. The court heard that the male black dog which emanated a high odour, had sought refuge under a stand which was used to store kitchen utensils.  After noticing the stray dog under his house, Ragoonath threw kerosene on the animal and set it afire with a piece of lighted newspaper. The dog bolted into the main road, where it died. According to Cpl Bernard, the dead animal in the middle of the street caused a heavy traffic pile-up, which drew the attention of a mobile police patrol jeep to the scene. The lawmen, led by Sgt Jimmy Palloo, were informed of the incident and took Ragoonath into custody.  Ragoonath was charged under Section 79 (1) of the Summary Offences Act.