Barrackpore man refuses fingerprinting

A Barrackpore man who allegedly stole $15,000 in jewellery from his neighbour was on Thursday remanded in custody after he refused to be fingerprinted for tracing of his criminal record. Randy Roopchand of Church Street, Monkeytown, told acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan: “I tell them (police) I didn’t do anything and I not giving them any (fingerprints.)” However, the San Fernando First Court Magistrate advised him to submit his prints for the police to do a criminal records trace so he could assess bail. He warned Roopchand that if he continues to refuse to give his fingerprints he would continue to refuse bail. Rambachan said it would make him “suspicious” that the 26 year-old had something he did not want the court to know.

Prosecutor Sgt Gordon Maharaj objected to bail. Roopchand asked for legal aid and Rambachan ordered that he be escorted to the Clerk of the Peace to sign the necessary application forms. Roopchand was arrested by PC Sydney Simon and charged with stealing $15,000 in jewellery from the dwelling house of Sundarlal Balchan between September 19 and  22, 2001, at 9 Church Street, Monkeytown, Barrackpore. Roopchand was not called upon to plead as the charge was laid indictably. He told the magistrate the Balchans were his neighbours and the police came and “lock me up on inquiries and carry me by my mother, by my sister house all where I does stay and they ain’t find nothing.” The case was adjourned to October 27.