Plumber jailed for series of robberies

In one of the incidents, police jointly charged Dareem Hamilton and a 15-year-old boy who was released in the care of his mother after he pleaded guilty.

Hamilton, of Thompson Gardens in Tarodale, appeared yesterday in the First Court charged with several counts of robbery with aggravation and possessions of guns and ammunition.

Prosecutor Cleydon Seedan told the court that on September 13, 2012, at about 11.20 am, Irma Samlal was at her businessplace Samlal’s Grocery at Southern Main Road, La Romaine, when Hamilton armed with a cutlass entered and announced a hold-up.

He demanded cash and Samlal handed him $3,500. Hamilton walked away and Samlal called the police.

On December 8, 2012 police met Hamilton at the San Fernando Police Station where he confessed to the crime.

He said he shared up the money at Peters Street, La Romaine.

PC Poolchan of the Southern Division Task Force laid the charge.

Two months later at about 9.30 am on November 12, Shova Moonilal-Forbes was at her businessplace also at Southern Main Road when Hamilton robbed her of $5,000 and two bottles of rum together valued $200. He was charged with that robbery by PC Noyan on December 8, 2012.

Seedan told the court that about 8.10 am on December 6, 2012, Peter Rattan, Narvin Jaimungal, Narine Jaimungal and Samaroo Seelochan were at La Plaisance Road, La Romaine when Hamilton, armed with a gun, robbed them of several items including four gold chains, two gold pendants, TT$ 1,115, US$ 627, two TT driver’s permits and one USA driver’s permit.

Police went to Temple Street, La Romaine and saw Hamilton sitting in a green. Police told him of the report of robbery with aggravation.

They searched him and found a gun with a magazine, which contained eight rounds of ammunition, in the waist of his pants. In the left front pants pocket, they found the stolen chains and pendants.

In his right front pocket, police found the money as well as the drivers permits and other items. PC Gerod of the Guard and Emergency Branch laid the charge.

At about 2 pm on March 19, last year, Vishal Moonlalsingh was on duty at Charran’s Cosmetics and Beauty Store at Ste Margaret’s Junction, Claxton Bay when he saw the 15-yearold boy and Hamilton, who had a firearm, enter the establishment.

They robbed him of a quantity of items. Police went to Old Train Line Road, Claxton Bay where they met the boy in the presence of his 19-year-old brother.

On March 27, police met Hamilton at the Marabella Police Station. PC Gordon of the Ste Margaret’s Police Station charged them.

The last set of robberies took place at about 8.48 pm on April 2, last year.

Constable Smith and other police officers received a report and went to Jing Supermarket at Southern Main Road, Marabella.

They saw Hamilton pointing a gun at a man on the ground.

Police ordered him to put down the gun but he left through a back entrance. He was chased and arrested a short distance away in some bushes with a gun in the waist of his pants.

Police searched a black bag which he had and found $1,724 and a quantity of Digicel and Bmobile cards.

Smith charged him with possession of a firearm, ammunition and robbery with aggravation.

Yesterday defence attorney Perusha Lord represented Hamilton and the minor.

The minor, she submitted, had neither previous convictions nor pending matters.

He understood the seriousness of the offence and expressed remorse, Lord told the magistrate.

Lord said the boy does not want to be labelled a scum of society and aspires to become an underwater welder.

Antoine released him in the care of his mother and ordered a probation officer’s report. She adjourned the case to July 31.

Hamilton spent one year and three months in custody and was remorseful for the wrong he did, the attorney said.