By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Thursday, September 20 2012

PORT-OF-SPAIN Magistrate Gloria Jasmath yesterday described as “pests”, two men who stood before her charged with breaking into and robbing a supermarket of almost $200,000 in items. The magistrate suggested that the only place suitable for such pests, was jail.

As such, Magistrate Jasmath, presiding over the 11th Court, sentenced Brian Cassie, 32, and George Ramnath, 49, to five years each for the burglary. Cassie, a father of two, and Ramnath, appeared in court on Monday and were remanded to re-appear yesterday. Jasmath yesterday read out the charge which stated that sometime between last week Tuesday and Wednesday, the men broke into Jumbo Foods Supermarket, Eastern Main Road in Barataria and stole $198,857.68 worth of items. Both men pleaded guilty to the charge laid by PC Nigel Toney of the Morvant Police Station.

Prosecutor Sgt Greer Britton-Lawrence said, at about 7.45 pm on September 11, Kevin Reno secured the business place and went away. Reno returned the next day at 4.15 am and discovered the supermarket broken into and a quantity of liquor valued $27,530.68, a steel safe valued $9,000 and $171,327 which was stored inside the safe, missing.

Both men were arrested last week Friday with Cassie, of Edinburgh 500 in Chaguanas telling PC Toney, “Boss I really did it because I am under some pressure financially.” Ramnath also admitted guilt and apologised.

The safe, minus the cash, was discovered under a bridge near Sixth Avenue in Barataria. Bottles of liquor valued $1,750 were also recovered.

Attorney Criston Johnson Williams said his client Cassie had been charged in the past but for the past four years, had kept on the good side of the law. He said that two months ago, Cassie’s home was burnt down and he was laid off by Abel Limited. Acknowledging that his client did not waste the court’s time by pleading not-guilty, Williams pleaded for leniency.

Ramnath of Ojoe Road in Sangre Grande was unrepresented by counsel and apologised to the court for his actions.

“You two have been in and out of the system. You have at least 20 convictions of a similar nature. Both of you are pests to society. The only place for you two is prison. I sentenced you both to five years imprisonment with hard labour,” Magistrate Jasmath said.