Midget to get tamarind whipping for buggery

Volney said in the San Fernando High Court that because of the "size" of accused Saran, he ordered the strokes be inflicted with the tamarind whip.

Volney said buggery was an offence which the public "does not even want to hear about." It was his duty, the judge added, to protect society from Saran, and the right message be sent to would-be offenders by imposition of corporal punishment. Saran was found guilty by an all-male nine-member jury who adjudicated in the case for the past five days. It was alleged that on Christmas Day 2002, Saran committed the offence. The jury heard that Saran, who lived opposite the house where the boy was staying at the time, was liming in front of the premises.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul, who prosecuted, led evidence that Saran walked into the yard and held on to the boy.

The jury heard that Saran then took the boy upstairs into a bedroom, where he buggered him. Evidence indicated that the victim’s 15-year-old brother, in whose care the boy was left because their mother was not at home, walked into the bedroom and saw Saran on top of his brother.

The jury heard that Saran forced the victim’s brother to perform oral sex on him. Saran was arrested three days after the offence was committed, while standing at Clarke Road Junction. Charges were laid by Cpl Monsegue.

In mitigation, attorney Mehwalal Chatoor pleaded with the judge to take Saran’s physical "stature" into consideration, since he was sometimes the subject of ridicule. "He’s not normal like you and me," Chatoor told Volney. Volney countered, however, that other midgets make valuable contributions in society. "He is bringing a bad name to midgets in this country," the judge remarked.

Saran began serving his sentence yesterday.