Robber, Sadam Hussain, jailed

A Guyanese man, Sadam Hussain, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, less the time he has spent on remand, for “grabbing a woman and robbing her of her money”.

“Robbery is a serious thing; a message has to be sent,” Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes said as he imposed the sentence on Hussain, 25.

The court heard that the complainant, Tatyana Millington, was walking through a well-traversed track along Henry’s Lane, St. Michael, on June 28, when “she was grabbed by her right breast and asked for $2”. The perpetrator then snatched her bag and made off with it, Millington in pursuit.

Before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Hussain pleaded guilty to robbing Millington of $150.

His attorney-at-law, Shadia Simpson, in pleading on his behalf, said that her client was not known to the law courts in Barbados or his homeland.

While the defence counsel conceded that the crime was serious, she said that Hussain had asked for the $2 for bus fare, adding that “there was no excuse for his actions”.

She also disclosed that he had no legal status in the country.

Simpson urged the court to take into consideration the fact that her client had spent one month on remand, had no prior convictions, and had pleaded guilty.

The attorney then made a submission for the court to impose a sentence of time served. The Chief Magistrate responded: “No.”

Simpson then asked for the court to consider a fine and restitution for the complainant.

But the Chief Magistrate made clear that option, too, was also off the table.

“Robbery is a serious thing,” he said. “This innocent woman on her way home through a familiar track… people comfortable passing through throughout the years… the idea that she could be put in that kind of fear where she is grabbed, and her bag snatched… and I should consider a fine… no way… a message has to be sent.” Weekes added that perpetrators were finding excuses to justify taking the property of hard-working people.

The judicial officer said the only other mitigating factor that he could find, given “this kind of violence”, was the fact that no weapon was used.

“He is not here legally but will seek to perpetrate this kind of crime… robbing, grabbing, snatching… the level of fear she would have gone through,” said the Chief Magistrate.

“Mr Hussain must understand that when you come to someone’s land, you walk the straight and narrow. People must feel safe in their neighbourhoods; that is the one place they should feel safe.”

Given the gravity of the offence, the convicted robber will spend 18 months in prison. On completion of his sentence, “Immigration authorities will escort him out of the country,” said Weekes.