News

Phone thief fined

By TASHIEKA MAIR, STAR Writer

western bureau

A 28-YEAR-OLD MAN, who pleaded guilty to simple larceny during his appearance in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court last week, was fined $40,000 or 30 days jail time when he returned before RM Wilson Scott on Wednesday.

The accused, Albert Scarlett, was given four weeks in his own surety to pay the fine. The condition was arrived at after a request by his attorney Clive Mullings, to have his plea changed, was turned down by the RM.

It is alleged that on the night of August 12 this year, the complainant left his Motorola cellular phone, valued at $29,500, on his window sill while it was being charged.

REMOVED PHONE

A witness, who lives on the same building, said she saw the accused using a piece of stick to remove the cell phone.

Further allegations are that when the accused realised that someone saw him, he ran to the back of the house and made his escape.

"A mi tief it but mi did go geem back still," Scarlett allegedly said when he was later apprehended.

The complainant on the last occasion told RM Wilson Scott that he was not interested in pressing charges against Scarlett because he had recovered his phone.

However, he was reminded that the court would make the final decision.