Justice not served says champion driver’s wife

THE MIRACLE which the Boodram family was praying for did not materialise as a High Court judge yesterday sentenced 55-year-old car sales businessman Frankie Boodram to five years in jail with hard labour for receiving stolen vehicle parts. 

Minutes after the judgment was delivered by Justice Paula Mae Weekes in the Port-of-Spain First Criminal Court, Boodram’s wife Jasmine declared that the charges against her husband were “a set up”. On Wednesday, the court found the former champion race car driver guilty of receiving stolen auto parts, but not guilty on the count of larceny of a van belonging to Clint Batchasingh. Hand-in-hand with his wife Jasmine and accompanied by a throng of family members and friends, Boodram arrived at the court around 9 am yesterday for sentencing. He conversed with his wife, went over some of the testimonials on his behalf and spoke to some of the policemen guarding him in the tension-filled courtroom. As the sentence was passed, the silence was shattered as Jasmine cried: “Oh no!” Boodram’s daughters Charlene and Allyson, who minutes before pleaded emotionally for their father to be spared a jail sentence, wept openly as Boodram was escorted away by the police. Describing the religious beliefs their father had taught them, Charlene said: “I believe that if you trust in God, miracles can happen.” They had only arrived in the country on Thursday night to lend emotional support to their father.

Others testifying on Boodram’s behalf were former Sports Minister Marilyn Gordon and retired director of physical education and sport at the ministry, Cecil Walker. Testimonials on Boodram’s behalf from the San Juan Business Association, Trinidad and Tobago Stock Car Drivers Association and other groups were also tendered into evidence. Speaking to reporters outside the Hall of Justice, Jasmine declared: “Justice has not been served. This whole thing was a set up.” According to Jasmine, a “sleeping jury” passed judgment on her husband, but she was firm in the belief that God would see her through this ordeal. She said Boodram was the “same man” she married 35 years ago and was innocent of the charges levelled against him. Jasime hinted that when her husband is released from jail, they would consider closing down their Speedway Auto Supplies business network. Boodram’s attorney, Israel Khan SC said he accepted the court’s ruling and intended to appeal the decision.