Father of 18 to spend Divali in jail

A 60-YEAR-OLD father of 18, who posed as a caretaker at a Hindu Temple and tried to defraud  a company of $240, will spend the Divali holiday behind bars, after a San Fernando magistrate yesterday sentenced him to 175 days imprisonment with hard labour.

Partap Bedassie, of  St John’s Village, pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to defraud a company under false pretences before Fourth Court Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan. According to court prosecutor Cpl Ali, Bedassie went to Anfield Services Ltd, located at the La Romaine Industrial Estate, pretending to be a caretaker with the Gandhi Ashram Temple, Todd Street, San Fernando. Bedassie told employees he was sent to collect $240 to purchase two tins of “ghee” (used in Hindu prayers). However, the employees grew suspicious and called the police. PCS Khamraj Sahadeo and Gary Santlal, both of the San Fernando CID, arrived shortly and questioned Bedassie, who admitted he was not a representative of the temple. He said he was “only trying to get some money.”