Found guilty of having the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Mathematics test paper before writing the exam, Anthero Mootoo was yesterday sentenced to two years probation.

The 18-year-old was ordered to visit a probation officer, who will monitor his progress over this period.

The sentence was passed yesterday by San Fernando Second Court Magistrate Melvin Daniel, after the former Presentation College student was last week found guilty of having prior knowledge of the Mathematics Paper II.

Mootoo was represented by attorney Michael Persadsingh, who asked that his client be reprimanded and discharged under Section 71 of the Summary Courts Act.

Daniel yesterday described the offence as a serious one. Students should not take the easy way out and should ’work hard for what they want’, he said.

Three months ago, a St Benedict’s College student was freed in the San Fernando Fourth Court of having the English and Mathematics papers.

Last year, two St Augustine Community College students pleaded guilty to having previous knowledge of the Communication Studies exam paper for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). They were given community service as their punishment. Four others still face charges in the CXC leak.