A 41-year-old fisherman, held outside the hunting season with $33,500 worth of wild meat and birds, including 24 armadillo carcasses, was yesterday fined a total of $8,100.Ricky Mohammed, 41, of Ribero Trace, Penal Rock Road, was ordered to pay the fine when he appeared before before Siparia magistrate Taramattie Ramdass charged with 29 offences committed last week Friday.Mohammed, who was represented by attorneys Ramnarine Soorjansingh and Melissa Singh, was jointly charged with Penal residents Andre Ramsingh and Shannon Vialva.The men were charged with 24 counts of having in their possession 24 armadilloes (tattoos), four counts of having in their possession four agoutis outside of the hunting season, one count of cruelty to animals and having birds in an undersized cage. They were also charged with harbouring un-customed goods under Section 2.13 (c) of Customs Act 2000.The charges were laid by Game Warden II Steve Seepersad and Customs Officer Kowlessar.Yesterday, when the matter was set for trial, Customs and Excise attorney Haricharan Kassie said he was ready to proceed.However, Soorjansingh indicated that Mohammed wanted to change his plea to guilty. Ramsingh and Vialva maintained their not guilty pleas.Kassie told the court that around 8.30 pm last Friday acting Cpl Harripersad and other officers of the Penal Police Station were on roadblock duty along Morne Diablo Main Road when they intercepted a blue Datsun 120Y driven by Mohammed.
A search was carried out on the vehicle and officers found six crocus bags containing the carcasses of 24 armadilloes and four agoutis.The officers also found three bird cages with 42 bullfinches in the back seat and car truck.Mohammed was arrested and taken to Penal Police Station where he was further interviewed by Game Warden Seepersad.Soorjansingh told the court Mohammed was the sole breadwinner in the home since his wife suffered with a heart condition and his mother-in-law was recovering from a stroke.Mohammed, he said, is the father of a 12-year-old daughter.Ramdass ordered Mohammed to pay $5000 or serve six months hard labour for the customs charge. He was fined $100 or 20 days simple imprisonment for each armadillo, $100 for each agouti or 20 days and $200 or 20 days for cruelty to animals. Mohammed was also fined $100 or 20 days for keeping birds in undersized cages.Ramsingh and Vialva will reappear in court on December 15 for their trial.