Court employee, Romario Gopaul, who set fire to the St. Catherine Parish Court in 2022, has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison.

Gopaul had pleaded guilty to arson, office breaking and larceny.

In sentencing Gopaul today, Justice Bertram Morrison pointed out that his actions affected the public and that he should have known better.

Reports are that in July 2022, fire was seen coming from the courthouse.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, the police discovered that a safe was broken into and money stolen from it.

Gopaul was subsequently arrested and charged.

Defense lawyer Esther Reid pleaded for leniency, for her client.

She said when Gopaul committed the act, it was because he feared for his life.

Reid said gangsters threatened to harm Gopaul and his family, if he did not steal the money from the courthouse.