A Couva man was fined a total of $4,500 for larceny by trick and ordered to compensate his victims in the sum of $13,500 after he took money from them for vehicles he never delivered.
Tajmool Mohammed, 54 of Preysal, Couva appeared before Senior Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the San Fernando Magistrates' Court.
He pleaded guilty to three charges read to him by Forde-John.
He was charged that on August 16, 2016 at Debe, he stole $6,500 from Sunil Jairajsingh. He was also charged that on the same day at the same place, he stole $3,500 from Gary Persad and he also stole $3,500 from Darren Ganness.
Mohammed, who said he makes a living buying and selling used vehicles, pleaded guilty to each charge.
Forde-John also read four other charges to him- one that on November 11, 2016 at Penal, he stole $24,500 from Devanand Seepersad. That matter was transferred to the Siparia Magistrates Court and will be heard today (Thursday.)
He was also charged that between November 18 and November 24, 2016 at Point Lisas he stole $53,000 from Kelvin Landoo.
He was also charged that between November 5 and November 8, 2016 at Couva he stole $4,000 from Mahadeo Girwar. Those matters were adjourned until Friday and transferred to the Couva Magistrates Court.
He was also charged on November 20, 2016, he stole $10,000 in the form of a cheque from Vanessa Sookhai.
That matter was also adjourned until next Monday and transferred to the Chaguanas Magistrates' Court.
He was not called upon to plead on any of those charges.
In court yesterday, court prosecutor Sgt Cleyon Seedan said the victims Ganness and Persad paid Mohammed the money as a downpayment towards the delivery and purchase for John Deere tractors.
Seedan said Jairajsingh paid the $6,500 as a downpayment towards the purchase and delivery of a used Nissan vehicle.
None of the vehicles were ever delivered and when the victims tried contacting Mohammed, their efforts proved futile. When Mohammed was questioned by police on February 6 about the matters, he said, "I have nothing to say about that-they get back their money and I pay back Sunil $6,500."
Mohammed's attorney, Sasha Singh told the court he is a father of three adult children and he is married. She said there was a third party involved in the transactions but Mohammed is remorseful for what he has done.
Singh said Mohammed intends to refund his victims in one month's time.
Forde-John fined him $1,500 for each charge and ordered to repay the full amounts he stole from the three men. If he fails to pay the fine for the offenses, he will face six months simple imprisonment on each charge. If he fails to repay his victims he will face six weeks simple imprisonment on each charge to run consecutively.