Several individuals were brought before the St Mary Parish Court on Thursday, October 19, to answer charges of stealing electricity from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) company. The fines range from as high as $70,000 to as low as $15,000.
FIRST TIME CHARGE
A man, told presiding senior parish judge Yvette Wentworth-Miller, that it was the first time that he was being charged for abstracting electricity. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
He is Devon Hinds.
Reports outlined in court were that on September 2, the police and JPS personnel were on operation in Frontier in St Mary, when a length of wire was seen attached to the JPS pole. The wire was traced to Hinds’ house where several appliances were seen attached to the illegal connection. These included three double plugs, a refrigerator, one light bulb, a radio, a DVD player and a fan. When cautioned Hinds gave no statement.
When asked by the judge if he had anything to say before he was sentenced, Hinds indicated that not all the appliances listed were what he had at the time. He said he only had one fan and a light bulb. He further disclosed that the refrigerator was not working and there was no DVD player.
He was fined $30,000 or 30 days in prison.
TAKING THE BLAME
A man was fined $70,000 for abstracting electricity, after two female relatives, offered not guilty pleas to similar charges.
The man convicted is Nathan Jones.
Allegations are that on September 7, the police and the JPS team were on operations in the Frontier, St Mary, when a length of black electrical wire was seen connected to the JPS wire by a makeshift pole. The wire was traced to a two-bedroom house, where a man and two women were seen.
Among the items connected to the illegal connection were three double plugs, six light bulbs, two fans, a refrigerator and a television set.
When pleaded, Jones pleaded guilty. However, the two females entered not guilty pleas.
When quizzed by the judge if this was his first offence, Jones explained that it was the second time that he had been charged for the offence. He also indicated that it was nine months that he had resided at the premises with his grandmother and aunt.
The judge asked him if he had anything to say before he was sentenced, to which he replied no. After being fined $70,000 or three months behind bars, Jones’ two relatives were freed of the charge. The judge warned the elder relative not to return to court on any charges of that nature at her age.
BEG YUH A CHANCE OFFICA
Another man from the Frontier area in St Mary, who when arrested for abstracting electricity told the police under caution ‘Beg yuh a chance offica”, was fined $20,000 or 30 days.
The convicted man, Renardo Chambers, was arrested on September 2, 2017.
Reports are the police and JPS were on operation, when a length of black electrical wire was seen. The wire was traced to a house where one double plug and a light bulb was connected to the illegal connection.
Chambers was fined in court.
