FANTASIST: Trinidad man lied about being kidnapped and robbed

A businessman who spent all his money on drugs while going through a divorce has been convicted for wasting police time after accusing an innocent man of kidnapping and robbing him.

Maraval resident Ramdeo Mathura, 58, told officers that a man named 'Shabba' left him penniless after taking TT$220 as well as his TT$60 wallet.

But instead a court in Trinidad heard that on 10 May, Mathura approached an officer in San Fernando, reported his tale and pointed to a random person who he called 'Shabba'.

Both men were taken to San Fernando police station, where Mathura gave a statement before admitting he was lying.

According to reports, after he was charged with the offence of wasteful employment of police time he said: “Officer I sorry. Officer let me tell you the truth, me and my wife going through a divorce and we can't see eye to eye because of the finances and I start using drugs about two months now.

"I came to San Fernando around 12.45pm. and I went to a guy by the name of Browne. I had about TT$2,000 on me. When Shabba came and I buy drugs from him I spent out all of my money.

"No one kept me against my will. I could ah leave anytime I wanted to but I had no money. Officer, I real sorry for what I do.”

The defendant also said that frustrations due to his divorce led him to start taking drugs "months ago".

Magistrate Indira Misir-Gosine told him that after looking at his criminal background she believe he had been using drugs for years.

Police prosecutor Krishna Bedassie asked for Mathura to be jailed.

Instead, Misir fined him TT$1,000 after taking his age into consideration his age

Mathura was given two weeks to pay the money or he will serve three months hard labour.

WIC News understands this was Mathura's second offence for wasting police time, after being convicted and jailed for the same crime in 2012.