An 18-year-old male appeared before a Siparia Magistrate Court on Wednesday charged with Robbery with Violence, Possession of a Firearm and Possession of Ammunition.
Jobe George of Turpin Trace, Harris Village, South Oropouche pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years hard labour for three counts of Robbery with Violence, three years hard labour for Possession of a Firearm and three years hard labour for Possession of Ammunition.
The sentence is to run concurrently.
According to a police report, on June 30th, a family was at their South Oropouche home when a vehicle pulled into their residence, the occupants alighted the vehicle and announced a robbery. The men allegedly proceeded to assault the four occupants of the house, they were then taken into the house and robbed of $65,000.00 TT dollars and a quantity of jewellery.
Officers on mobile patrol were alerted to a robbery in progress at South Oropouche. A party of officers arrived at the residence and allegedly observed a man with a gun aimed at four persons all laying on a grassy area of the yard.
The officers announced themselves and entered the premises, when three of the four men escaped into some nearby bushes, and a fourth man ran to the left side of the house, Police Constables Noel and Bisram gave chase and the man was subdued and arrested.
GEORGE was also relieved of a sawed-off shotgun loaded with two 16 gauge cartridges that were in his possession.
The investigation is ongoing into the three remaining suspects.