Car thief released after more than a year in custody

In passing sentence, San Fernando magistrate Brambhanan Dubay said he took into consideration the guilty plea as well as the one year, three months and 14 days spent in custody.

Moonilal, 29, a helper at a plant shop, appeared in the First Court. Last year when he first appeared, he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

However, he was unable to secure his bail bond and remained on remand.

On Tuesday, prosecutor PC Cleydon Seedan told the court that on April 24 last year at about 11 am, Hemraj Ragoonanan parked his B14 car along Dumfries Road, La Romaine and went away. He returned about 20 minutes later and discovered the car missing.

He reported the matter to the San Fernando CID and PC Harricharan conducted investigations.

A few hours later, police recovered the car along the Penal Rock Road, Penal and subsequently arrested Moonilal.

Attorney Chantal Paul represented Moonilal whom, she said, suffers from a mental illness. She said based on instructions, he uses drugs and as such cannot say if the illness is drug induced.

At the time of the offence, the attorney said, her client was “sick” and not in the right frame of mind.

Scolding Moonilal for stealing the car, Dubay said the crime was a very serious one and people work hard to purchase their vehicles. Dubay then ordered Moonilal’s release saying he had already served his time.