Time almost up

Argentinian fraudster Joaquin Alberto Lobos will have to spend just over three more months at HMP Dodds before he can return home.

When he reappeared in the No. 2 Supreme Court for sentencing on Friday, Justice Randall Worrell ordered him to spend 96 days in prison.

Lobos, of Caseros, Buenos Aires, had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of theft, in that between July 5 and 8, 2019, he stole a combined sum of $88,070 from CIBC First Caribbean International Bank.

He also pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering in that he had in his possession $88,070 being the proceeds of crime.

In handing down his ruling, Justice Worrell told Lobos the offences he had committed were so serious that a custodial sentence was required.

“These offences are very serious and can only be dealt with by way of a sentence of imprisonment; that is what this court is indicating to you. The court has also taken into consideration the fact that the funds basically would have been returned to the parties…. The insurance would have taken care of that but it is still a serious matter,” the judge told him.

“This court is of the opinion that the adequate starting point for you in respect of all of these matters is one of four years.”

Justice Worrell noted that four years translated to 1,460 days and Lobos would receive a one-third discount for his early guilty plea which meant 486 days would be deducted.

He then sentenced Lobos to 974 days on each count. However, when the 878 days he had spent on remand were deducted, that left 96 days on each charge.

“The sentence of the court is 96 days on each count to run concurrently from today,” Justice Worrell said.

Crown Counsel Keith Robertson appeared on behalf of the Crown while Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim represented Lobos.