St. Catherine Court House Employee Who Set Fire to Courthouse Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

A former St. Catherine Court House employee, arrested and charged for setting fire to the Parish Court Administrative building, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison when he appeared before the Parish Court on Friday.

The accused man, identified as Romario Gopaul, alias ‘Keith’, pleaded guilty to Arson, Larceny, and Office Breaking.

Reports indicate that on July 24, 2022, fire was discovered emanating from the upper section of the Court office at Emancipation Square in Spanish Town. An alarm was raised, and the Fire Department was called. Upon their arrival, firemen discovered that the fire originated from the Civil Litigation Office.

After extinguishing the fire, it was found that a safe inside the office was opened, and cash was stolen. Following an investigation, it was revealed that Gopaul, employed to the Court Administration Office, was behind the entire incident of fire and theft. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

In his defense, his attorney, Esther Reid, informed the presiding judge that the accused man and the lives of his immediate family members were threatened by two armed men who ordered him to commit the act.

However, the judge, noting that Gopaul should have known better because of his employment in the Court system, handed down a sentence of 10 and a half years for Arson and 4 and a half years for the Break-in and Larceny. The sentences will be served concurrently.

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