A one-legged Marabella man who was released from jail a month ago after serving a seven-year term was sent back to prison yesterday for selling cocaine. Aluko Thomas, 29, was sentenced to 18 months by San Fernando Second Court Magistrate Rae Roopchan after he pleaded guilty to possession of 16 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Thomas, who lost his leg during a shootout with police in 2008, said he was frustrated because he could not apply for a disability grant, since he did not have an identification card.
And when a car crashed into his house during a police chase last week, he said the next day he took $700 from a partner and bought cocaine to smoke and sell. Thomas, who has previous convictions for a range of offences, including robbery, ammunition, drugs and gun possession, begged the magistrate to help him out. “You are not helping society. By selling drugs you are causing a real problem,” Roopchan said. He said in his opinion serious crimes, such as larceny, robbery and murders, stemmed from drugs.
Given the conditions in prison, Roopchan said he tried not to send people to jail but in Thomas’ case he had no choice. Thomas, who supports himself on crutches, was arrested around 10.45 am on Saturday at Sooknanan Street, Marabella, after the police found cocaine rocks in a container in his pants pocket. He told the police: “Boss, ah now come out of jail, give me a chance.” Roopchan told Thomas the 18 months sentence was lenient given his criminal background.