Men jailed for 36 months for robbing boss

They are, Ryan Cromwell, 28, of Fyzabad, and Fabien Thomas, 37, of Guapo Village. They had pleaded not guilty before Senior Magistrate Margaret Alert in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court to the charge of robbery with aggravation.

Police prosecutor Sgt Krishna Bedassie led evidence from witnesses that at about 4.30 pm on June 29, at SS Erin Road, Debe, contractor Ramchand Roopchand was about to drive into the compound of his businessplace when Cromwell, Thomas and another man, who has since died in an unrelated incident, accosted him with a knife and a gun. They robbed him of the cash and a cell phone.

Police officers testified at the trial that a road-block was set up and the men were apprehended in the getaway car at Timithal Junction, Woodland.

Ap p r o x ima t e l y $3,000, a knife and the businessman’s cellular phone were found in the vehicle. Both Cromwell and Thomas gave evidence on their own behalf and denied the allegation.

Alert gave her decision yesterday and found both guilty as charged. Attorney Ainsley Lucky, who represented the men, told the court that Cromwell’s wife had died and he has two children. As for Thomas, he is the father of two children. Alert sentenced both men to 36 months in jail with hard labour.