‘Breast-toucher’ on $5,000 bond
By Reshma Ragoonath (T&T Guardian)
Mark Jackman, a CEPEP worker, was warned yesterday to restrict his hands to his female companion and leave all other women in society “alone” after he pleaded guilty to indecent assault. Jackman, 23, a father of one, admitted he touched a woman’s breast while they were waiting in line at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) on Tuesday morning. Jackman was placed on a $5,000 bond to keep the peace for two years, in default he will return to court for sentence and conviction. San Fernando Second Court Magistrate Lisa Ramsumair-Hinds, in passing sentence on Jackman, advised him to “learn self-control in public and to respect a woman’s body.”
She advised him to restrict his actions to women whose “affection” he had earned and “as for the women in society who do not know you or care to know you, leave them alone.” The magistrate, while agreeing with defence lawyer Mewahlal Chatoor that Jackman’s act was on the lower end of spectrum in the criminal justice system, said: “it does not change the fact that it is offensive, highly offensive. “What troubles me most is it was not done in private. It was done in public. The woman was carrying about her business and was violated. I wonder what you could have done in private.” Chatoor had contended that what Jackman did was “simple touching” and no “great offence was intended. He is sorry. It was a mistake.”
He added that Jackman had learnt his lesson. The magistrate dismissed that statement. She said what Jackman did was a “violation of privacy,” since he touched the unsuspecting woman on a part of her body that was considered to be “very, very private.” Jackman was arrested by San Fernando City Woman Police Pierre. Police prosecutor Ramdath Phillip told the court around 5 am the victim was in the Republic Bank ATM on Mucurapo Street, San Fernando, when Jackman entered. He added: “He told the woman ‘family you looking nice’ and touched her on her right breast.” The woman left the ATM, it was stated, and made a report to Pierre who was on foot patrol at the time. Jackman was held a short distance away.