A man, who was charged for practicing obeah following his arrest for abstracting electricity, was fined $45,000 or 30 days imprisonment for stealing the Jamaica Public Service’s (JPS) commodity.
The man convicted, Michael Stewart of Heywood Hall, appeared before the St Mary Parish Court on Thursday, November 2.
Stewart pleaded guilty to abstracting electricity, but said he was not guilty to the charge of practicing obeah.
Allegations were that on October 12, a team of police officers and the JPS were on operation in the Heywood Hall community in the parish when an illegal connection was observed coming from Smith’s house.
Further investigations revealed that he had several appliances attached to the illegal connection. These included a radio, a refrigerator, a television set, DVD player, one light bulb and a fan. When cautioned by the police, Stewart told them “Mi a beg yuh one bly.”
The prosecutor did not reveal any details surrounding the practicing obeah charge.
When quizzed by senior parish judge Yvette Wentworth-Miller about who else resided at the house with him, Stewart indicated that he lived alone at the house. He had lived there for the past three years.
“How long are you using the fridge?” enquired the judge.
“About three months now,” Stewart indicated.
When Judge Wentworth-Miller asked if he planned on getting light legally, Stewart said he had started the process. The judge further asked Stewart if he had anything to say before he was sentenced. She revealed to him that the maximum fine for the offence was one million dollars.
“Give me a chance… Me need a second chance Your Honor,” Stewart pleaded.
The matter was stood down before sentencing was handed down. When Stewart was recalled, he was fined $45,000 or 30 days imprisonment.
In relation to his charge of practicing obeah, Stewart is to stand trial in the night court on January 8, 2018.
