Tobago youth gets ten years for robbing tourist

A Tobago youth was on Thursday jailed for 10 years with hard labour for robbing a visiting Russian woman of over $700,000 (TT) in cash and valuables last week Wednesday. Dave Guy, 19, of Egypt Village, Bethel, was sentenced by senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie in the Scarborough First Court. Charges were laid by Detective PC Earl Arthur of the Old Grange police. In handing down sentence, the Magistrate told Guy she could extend no mercy in the matter. To which, Guy responded, “Well, that is you!” Guy pleaded guilty to robbing 41-year-old Svetlana Gof-man of Moscow, the wife of a retired businessman, of US$30,000 in cash; 15,000 Euros; TT$3,000; six Frank Muller watches together valued at US$50,000; five cigarette lighters (US$15,000); two emerald rings (US$3,000); a pair of gold and diamond earrings (US $2,000;) and a gold chain valued at US $5,000.

The court heard that around 12 midnight on June 23, the woman was relaxing with friends around the swimming pool at a villa at Jacamar Drive, Mt Irvine, when three cutlass-wielding masked men stormed the premises. The men went directly to the woman and told her they “want the money and jewelry in the vault,” the court was told. The Russian visitor became afraid and opened the vault and handed over the cash and other items. The court heard that Detective Arthur subsequently executed a search warrant at Guy’s home and recovered US$3,000, one wrist watch, and a cigarette lighter — which were identified as belonging to the victim.