Labourer begs for jail time, gets 18 months

Aug 21, 2018 News

Jailed: Wazim Pereira

A 27-year-old labourer who begged a City Magistrate to send him to prison was yesterday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to escaping from Police Custody. Wazim Pereira, of 111 North Sophia, appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
He pleaded guilty to the charge which stated that on August 19, last, at Georgetown, while being in lawful custody at the Kitty Police Station, pending a larceny of cattle charge, he escaped.
When given a chance to address the court, Pereira stated, “Listen, me ain’t able waste time on remand. Give me a small sentence and I will accept and bless.”
Facts presented by Police Prosecutor, Quinn Harris, stated that on the day in question, Pereira was arrested and taken into custody after he was suspected of stealing a goat. The Prosecutor added that while in custody, Pereira asked to use the washroom.
The officer then unlocked his handcuffs and he pushed the officer down and ran out of the station. An investigation was immediately launched and Pereira was rearrested at his home and taken back into custody.
When asked by the Magistrate why he escaped from custody, Pereira said, “I escaped because I needed to go home and see my wife and children. I was frustrated. Whatever sentence you give me I will accept and bless”
He added that he gave a female officer $10,000 and she loose his handcuffs and told him he was free to go. Based on Pereira’s statement that he was told to leave by a female officer, the Magistrate changed his plea to not guilty and remanded him.
Pereira upon hearing that he was remanded told the Magistrate that he’s guilty of the offence and that he should be jailed and not sent on remand.
The Magistrate, after listening to Pereira, re-read the charge to him and he pleaded guilty, hence she sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment for the offence.

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