THE Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the United States Customs are investigating a possible international pornographic ring involving Trinidad and Tobago.

The US authorities are seeking assistance from the TT Police following yesterday’s jailing of a former Inland Revenue Service (IRS) agent in Los Angeles who was imprisoned for more than five years in federal prison for covering up his involvement with prostitutes including visiting Trinidad last May to film his sexual encounters with a 17-year-old girl, believed to be a known prostitute in this country. The US agencies also plan to visit Trinidad to follow-up their investigations into the latest incident. US investigators have been in Port-of-Spain before to probe pornographic allegations between both countries. In one instance, a well-known Trinidadian was held in the US with pornographic material which led to his jailing there and subsequent deportation to Trinidad. An FBI official in Los Angeles told Newsday yesterday that the jailing of the former IRS agent was just “the tip of the iceberg.” She believes that the visit of the accused to Trinidad last May was to film the material for widespread sale across the United States. “We were fortunate that he was held and searched by Customs otherwise he may have gotten away.” The official admitted that Customs were tipped off of the man’s sexual prowess after he departed Trinidad.

Kenneth Philip Fazende, 44, had pleaded guilty to the charges, which also included making a sexually explicit video with a minor in Trinidad. He is to serve five years and three months in prison, followed by three years of probation. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge John Walter also required Fazende to register as a sex offender and attend counselling sessions upon his release. Fazende, who worked as an IRS criminal investigator in Southern California from 1995 to 2002, admitted to soliciting a 16-year-old prostitute in Los Angeles who eventually stole his unmarked government car in June 2001. The girl, asleep in Fazende’s Hollywood apartment when he left for work, apparently found the keys and took the car. In his attempt to conceal the theft, he told police that his apartment had been burglarised by an unknown thief. The former IRS agent also acknowledged that he was involved with at least two other prostitutes between 1999 and 2000, one of whom stole his personal car. Fazende was arrested in Puerto Rico in May while returning from Trinidad. United States Customs agents found a video camera with footage of him engaging in sex acts with a 17-year-old girl in Port-of-Spain. Fazende admitted in his plea deal that he hired the girl to make the video and intended to bring it to the United States. A second video of Fazende having sex with the same girl turned up in a search of a residence that he shared with his brother in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Elton John was yesterday ordered to pay a fine of $1,200 immediately or serve 32 days in jail by a Scarborough magistrate after he admitted being in possession of two grammes of marijuana at Guy Street, Canaan, Tobago, last Friday afternoon.

The sentence was imposed on John by Senior Magistrate Annette McKenzie in the Scarborough First Court. John, 18, of Canaan, was arrested and charged by PC Carlon Denoon, of Crown Point Police. “Boss, is just ah little smoke!” John told Denoon, according to evidence presented by Prosecutor, Ag Insp Fitzroy Gray. The court heard that uniform-clad PC Denoon was on mobile patrol in a marked police vehicle along Guy Street around 1.25 pm. John, who was walking along the street, pushed his right hand in his pocket and quickened his pace when he saw the police vehicle, the court was told. PC Denoon subsequently confronted and searched John, and found in his right front pants pocket, a piece of transparent plastic containing two grammes of the illegal herb. Asked if he had anything to say before sentence was passed, John said: “I go pay half the money.” “That’s it? You have to pay $1,200 now or serve 32 days,” the magistrate responded.

A 41-year-old grandfather of seven was yesterday sentenced to a total of 15 years hard labour for buggering a 12-year-old schoolboy.

Terry Benjamin, of Belmont, was sentenced to ten years for buggering the boy and five years for serious indecency. Since his sentences are to run concurrently, he will have to serve only ten of those years. In sentencing Benjamin, Justice Rajendra Narine, sitting in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court, warned that this was a very serious offence, particularly when committed on children. He said it was the sort of offence that left deep psychological and emotional scars. State attorneys Kathy-Ann Waterman-Latchoo and Angelica Teelucksingh prosecuted while attorney Mario Merritt represented Benjamin. The jury of nine took about an hour to return its guilty verdict, to which Justice Narine responded: “Thank you for getting it right.”

The facts of the case were that Benjamin had known the boy for about five years prior to the incident. The boy was a friend of his grandchildren. At about 7 pm on September 7, 1995, Benjamin accosted the boy whom he found alone behind a bathroom located outside a house. He held the boy against the bathroom wall and committed acts of serious indecency and later buggered him. Later, the boy’s father, who caught Benjamin red-handed, pulled his son away from Benjamin. He proceeded to beat Benjamin with a piece of wood. Benjamin ran away but three days later, he was arrested at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, nursing his wounds from the beating.   Benjamin, in his defence, claimed that he had come upon the victim and another boy having sex and and on telling the boy’s father of his observation, he said the father got angry and attacked him. He also claimed that both father and son had fabricated the charges against him.

A 66-year-old pensioner will have to pay $10,000 compensation for wounding his neighbour in 1999. Pensioner Charles Elliot was also placed on a bond in the sum of $30,000 for two years to keep the peace and be of good behaviour or in default, he will have to re-appear before Justice Paula Mae Weekes for sentencing. Payment of the compensation fee is to start with an immediate $2,000 payment. He must pay the balance within the next 12 months.

Elliot was found guilty of wounding his neighbour Shawn Bethelmy with a single chop to his right hand on November 12, 1999, at his apartment. He was prosecuted by State attorneys Jeron Joseph and Nadia James while attorney Sean Cazabon defended Elliot. In sentencing Elliot, Justice Weekes noted that the incident was “one of aberration of a man of 60 plus years.” She observed that there was more to the incident than came out before the Court, but, be that as it may, she would have to deal with only what was before the Court. She said that before the incident, Elliot had a clean record, and it was rather unusual for him to behave the way he did, notwithstanding his alcohol consumption. While considering the sentencing, Justice Weekes said that Elliot was not a nuisance nor did he need rehabilitating, consequently incarceration would not be necessary. The judge said though that he had to pay for the wrong he did to Bethelmy.

HE TOLD the magistrate that he loved his ex-common-law wife whom he gave all his earnings and had even consulted with a priest in the hope of reviving the relationship with her. However, yesterday 42-year-old carpenter Ralph Rampersad was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment with hard labour after pleading guilty to robbery with violence against Zaniffer Mohammed.

The sentence was handed down by Magistrate Sonia Aleong in the San Fernando Second Court. According to Court Prosecutor Cpl Joey Samaroo, Rampersad went to Mohammed’s La Romaine house on July 28. During the visit, a quarrel broke out between the two and Rampersad dealt Mohammed a blow to her head which resulted in a five-inch laceration. He then took a purse valued $50; $500; three gold earrings together valued $450; a pair of spectacles worth $800 and a Trinidad and Tobago identification card from Mohammed. She reported the matter to the San Fernando police station. PC Bacchus of the San Fernando CID subsequently arrested the defendant at Ramlal Street last Sunday. Rampersad pleaded with the magistrate and still admitted that, in spite of the events which brought him before the court, “I really love my wife.” Rampersad said that he only kept “a little money for himself and maybe to smoke a cigarette.” Apart from this, he said he gave her all his money. However, Magistrate Aleong was unmoved by his impassioned pleas and imposed the custodial sentence on Rampersad.

HAVING produced the top student in the world, Naparima College has now reached the pinnacle of success in local education. Never before in the school’s 119-year history has such an achievement been obtained.

Yesterday, following the weekend announcement of scholarship winners, teachers and students took some time to bask in the glory of their top student Kevin Singh, who captured the President’s Medal for Science. Singh placed first in the world in Advanced Level Accounts according to the World Ranking Order List from Cambridge University. There is more from this brilliant student. He placed third in the World in Mathematics. And, according to the marks from Cambridge, Singh attained the highest percentage in his examination papers in all four Advanced Level subjects — Accounts, Additional Maths, Further Maths and General Paper. Singh is studying Actuarial Science in Canada and yesterday his parents who had been vacationing with him there, returned home. Parents Tom and Rowatee Singh, of Mendes Village, Siparia, paid a courtesy call on school principal Maureen Attwal. They also showered praises on teachers who gathered in the staff room around mid-morning for a chit-chat about their school’s greatest achievement.

Speaking to Newsday, Tom said his son is to aspiring to become a Fellow of the American College of Actuarial Scientists. Head of Naparima College’s Department of Mathematics and Singh’s former teacher, Fyad Ali, was highly commended by Tom and Rowatee. The school copped 15 scholarships this year. Naparima College also boasts of the high commendation received by two of its students who were recently chosen to attend the Global Young Leaders’ Conference in the US. “This morning, the whole school is clicking; we are overjoyed,” Attwal said, as students, teachers and the Singhs exchanged congratulatory handshakes. This level of success, the principal added, can be attributed to the mechanism being instituted at the school and the driving force of teachers and parents. Naparima has come a long way in education. Recently, there has been a rejuvenation of zeal and the goal-seeking spirit in tutoring the young minds at the College. In the words of the Principal: “there is no middle path at Naparima College. There is one goal — aim for the highest.” Small wonder why the school building is perched high on Paradise Pasture Hill — no doubt an inspiration to students, that the stark reality of life can be effectively challenged when you start life at the top.

HOLY Faith Convent, Couva performed with distinction in this year’s Cambridge Advanced Level Examination, gaining ten National scholarships, according to results released by the Ministry of Education last week.

The ten students were: Nerissa Nandram (Additional); Rafeena Singh (Business Studies Open); Mary-Rose Narayane (Further Additional); Sophia Cipriani (Further Additional); Andrell Hosein (Further Additional); Nadia Hosein (Further Additional); Sonya Boodoo (Further Additional); Chrystal Thomas (Business); Farzana Nazir (Further Additional) and Subina Surendran (Further Additional). The scholarship winners were invited to the school yesterday morning and were introduced to the assembly who welcomed them with thunderous applause “as bringing glory and honour to our 53-year-old institution,” according to Principal Joyce Amow-Ali. NERISSA NANDRAM — daughter of Mr and Ms Rajdial Nandram of Pierre Road, Charlieville, placed ninth in the world in Physics according to the 2003 Advanced Level examination.

At the Ordinary Level examination which she took in 2001, she gained distinctions in — Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics, English, Literature, Information Technology, Spanish and Add Maths. At the Advanced Level examination, she got A’s in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and General Paper. She is pursuing studies in Electrical Engineering at UWI, St Augustine. RAFEENA SINGH — Daughter of Mr and Ms Khame Singh of California got O’Level distinctions in English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, Information Technology, Accounting and Principles of Business. At the Advanced Level she gained A’s in Economics, Business Studies, Accounting and General Paper. She will be pursing Business Studies at UWI from next September. MARY ROSE NARAYANE — daughter of Rosemarie Narayane of Palmiste. At the Ordinary Level, she gained distinctions in — Mathematics, English, Literature, French, Additional Mathematics, Information Technology, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. At the Advanced Level she got distinctions  in  Add Maths, Chemistry and Physics. She will be pursuing studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering at UWI. SOPHIA CIPRIANI — daughter of Dr  and Ms Reginald Cipriani of Couva. Distinctions at the Ordinary Level in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Add Maths, English Literature, Information Technology. A’s at the Advanced Level in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. ANDRELL HOSEIN — daughter of Mr and Ms Kameed Hosein of Penco Lands, Montrose, Chaguanas. Distinctions at the Ordinary Level in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Add Maths, Spanish, English Literature, and Information Technology.

At the Advanced Level, A’s in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. NADIA HOSEIN — Daughter of Mr and Ms Nazir Hosein, of Preysal Village, Couva. Distinctions at the Ordinary Level in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Add Mathematics, Spanish, Literature, English, and Information Technology. At the Advanced Level, A’s in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. SONYA BOODOO — daughter of Mr and Ms Ganga Persad Boodoo, of Lange Park, Chaguanas. Distinctions at the Ordinary Level in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Add Mathematics, Spanish, Literature, English and Information Technology. A’s at the Advanced Level in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Further Maths.

A STUDENT who formally attended Couva Junior Secondary School and was transferred to Form 4 at Holy Faith Convent, Couva at the end of the 14-plus Examination, has been awarded a National scholarship in this year’s Cambridge Advanced Level ex-amination.

She is CHRYSTAL THOMAS, who also placed first in the 14-plus examination in the country. Chrystal was awarded a business studies scholarship this year having gained distinctions in Mathematics, Economics and Business Studies at the Advanced Level ex-amination. At the Ordinary Level examination, which she wrote two years ago, Chrystal got distinctions in Add Maths, Mathematics, English Language, Spanish, Geography and Principles of Business. It was announced that she received a Further Additional scholarship based on the result of the Advanced Level examination. At the moment, she is employed at Price Plaza Scotia Bank and will be accepting her scholarship next September, she said.

THE UNITED NATIONAL CONGRESS (UNC) is “on a rebuilding and re-transformation path to take over the Government of the country from the People’s National Movement.”

Senator Wade Mark told a media briefing on Sunday at the end of a special national retreat that the party’s constitution was being reshaped at the moment, in keeping with the changing political landscape of the country and in time, it will be submitted to the National Congress for approval. By November, all the party machinery will be ready for the January elections at which all the posts will be declared vacant and will be openly contested. Party Leader Basdeo Panday said that he would be ready to give up leadership at the age of 70, and indications are that he may not agree to stand for re-election as he prepares to “devote the rest of my life to religious pursuits.”

At the special national retreat, Winston Dookeran (MP for St Augustine) submitted a paper on the question of leadership and what it would take the UNC to adopt to “recover governance” and this was studied by seven groups in a workshop, before reports were submitted at the end of the day. As a result, the party would come up with an action plan that would soon be implemented on the road to regaining political power in the country. Dookeran heads a 15-man committee to study the action plan before proposals come up for discussion at the party’s National Congress.

Members of the National Ramleela Council of TT (NRCTT) will join with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to award 25 persons who have contributed to the development of Ramleela celebrations in the country. The award ceremony is carded to take place at the Rudranath Capildeo Learning Resource Centre, Mc Bean, Couva, at 5.30 pm on September 14.

The Ramleela celebration is the enactment of the life and time of the Hindu God, Lord Rama. It runs for ten days with daily performances by members from the various villages in the country. This celebration dates back more than 120 years ago. According to the PRO/Secretary of NRCTT, Indra Pooran, each year just before Divali, the indentured labourers who came from India would gather together at a local venue to portray the life of Lord Rama. This drama portrayal remains one of the oldest celebrations in the country. “The celebration of Divali marks the coming of Lord Rama from exile. More than 5,000 years ago in India, the people lit the streets as they welcomed Lord Rama to the city of Ayodya. Today the Hindus still maintain this practice,” Pooran explained. She noted NRCTT met recently to discuss the promotion of Ramleela celebrations in the country. This drama portrayal is hosted in villages such as Tunapuna, St Augustine, Carapichaima, Felicity, Preysal, Tarouba, Couva, Cedar Hill, Matilda, Siparia, Penal, Orange Valley and Cungal. 

The villagers get together for rehearsals before the actual celebration takes place. The characters chosen to do this drama include Lord Rama, his wife Sita, his brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Satrohan and his mothers Khekayi, Sumintra and Kausilya. Lord Rama’s father, King Dasharat, is played by an elder in the village. The story starts with the birth appearance of Lord Rama and his brothers. It continues for ten days and ends with the burning of the demon king Ravana. Among those who will be honoured are Mahant Babu Boochoonsingh, Rampat Maraj, Siewdath Maharaj, Ajeet Praimsingh, Tulsie Dass Sharma, Elizabeth Baboolal, Sirju Ramoutar, Dolly Lochan, Seecharan Pandogie, Seereram Desain, Carlton Ramlal, Lalla Singh, Roopchand Baal, Rampartap Baal, Sankar Sinanan, Mahase Maharaj and Premchand Ramsaran.