More jail for kidnapper

Alarmed by the increase in kidnapping and violent crimes involving illegal firearms,  Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma announced a new sentencing policy yesterday, calling on his colleagues to impose consecutive sentences on guilty persons of violent crimes involving arms and ammunition. The CJ made the call when the Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction of kidnapper Kellon John and varied his sentences of 30 years  and two years to run consecutively instead of concurrently, as was ordered by trial judge Justice Mark Mohammed earlier this year. John’s sentence started as of yesterday. Instead of 30 years jail John will now serve 32 years. CJ Sharma advised John that he may still be able to benefit from a reduction in sentence if there was something mitigating in his favour such as revealing the identities of his fellow kidnappers to the police. He observed that John’s confederates were still outside terrorising people. 

The CJ advised that if John cooperated with the police, the prison authority may take off some years for good behaviour or, the Ministry of National Security may petition the President for a reduction in sentence. The CJ said that kidnapping has paralysed the country and the frequency of violent crimes has  brought the country to its knees, and sullied its name internationally. He noted that citizens with businesses are migrating while the children of others are afraid to even walk the streets because of these criminal hooligans and gangsters.  They are terrified and horrified of what is going on and are forced to leave.  “We are like prisoners in our own homes while the criminals freely roam outside.” He also echoed the sentiments of special prosecutor Devan Rampersad, who said what was once a rainbow country basking in paradise is now being crippled as the terror of kidnapping sweeps through the land mauling the very social fabric of society. He equated  kidnapping in this country to a form of terrorism.

John was convicted of the kidnapping of Henry Francis of Sagramsingh Drive, Quash Trace Extension, Sangre Grande, on June 9, 2002. John and four other men had kidnapped Francis at gun point, beat him and a few days later released him after a ransom of $200,000 in cash and jewelry was paid. He was sentenced by Justice Mohammed on March 5, 2004. John’s attorney Keith Scotland, argued two grounds of appeal  but failed to impress the court comprising the CJ and Justices Margot Warner and Alan Mendonca. CJ Sharma explained that in the circumstances of the crime situation in the country they did not think the sentence harsh, noting that Justice Mohammed had meticulously gone through the principles of punishment before sentencing John. He said the court must rethink its position on concurrent sentencing and depart from this policy. The court must play its part and restore  peace on this once paradise island. He further affirmed that the court must show its abhorrence of this type of deviant behaviour.