A Charlieville labourer, who was fined $5,000 in July last year for failing to submit himself for breathalyser testing, has been jailed for 12 months for a similar offence. Imtiaz Karim was yesterday jailed by Magistrate Gillian David-Scotland, presiding in the Chaguanas Magistrates' Court. The latest offence took place on Saturday. Karim pleaded guilty to failing to submit a specimen of breath for testing.
David-Scotland, in passing sentence, said in the hands of a drunk man, "a vehicle is a weapon." Initially Karim, who was represented by attorney Rick Ramparas, said he had no previous matters.
Police prosecutor Sgt Joey Samaroo, however, informed the court that Karim was convicted in July 2010 for the same offence and was fined $5,000. Yesterday, Samaroo told the court that around 2.45 am on Saturday, Karim was driving along the Caroni Savannah Road when police observed his vehicle swerving from side to side.
Karim was stopped. Officers detected the scent of alcohol and took Karim to the Las Lomas Police Post for breathalyser testing. When they attempted to administer the test, Karim failed to submit a sample of breath. The officers told Karim about the offence and he replied: "Officer meh ain't kill nobody. Why allyuh don't go and lock up them bandit?"
Reporting by Reshma Ragoonath