Man steals awning after calls to owner went unanswered

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 11:53 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man, who confessed to stealing an awning from a woman’s backyard, has been given next month to make restitution to the complainant.

Horace McLean was given until November 12 to pay the woman $50,000 for the awning after pleading guilty to a charge of simple larceny when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court.

He’s also to be sentenced on that day.

McLean’s bail was extended after he told the court that he needed to “hustle” to come up with the cash.

“If I don’t get the money by November 12, you will know which God you a serve,” Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey told McLean.

The complainant told the court that she was doing renovation on her house and had the awning in her backyard when McLean stole it. She said when she confronted the accused he told her that only God could make him bring back her awning.

Asked by Pusey why he shouldn’t be sent to prison over the theft, McLean said, “It [the awning] was mash up. I was calling and me nuh hear nobody.”

“You caa throw down things in your yard,” Pusey lamented. “A man house his is palace, you caa go round there.”

He said he sold the awning for $800.

Racquel Porter

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Man steals awning after calls to owner went unanswered

Radio station owner said among 711 arrested for electricity theft

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 6:57 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) is reporting that 711 persons have been arrested between January 1 and October 15 for the illegal abstraction of electricity.

JPS has been carrying out multiple operations across the island, with the support of the security forces, in addition to conducting meter audits and account investigations.

The parishes with the highest number of arrests for electricity theft are St James with 128 arrests, followed by St Elizabeth with 118 arrests and St Catherine with 112 arrests.

According to a company release on Saturday, a community radio station owner/operator in St James was arrested during the week when a meter bypass was found powering the small media entity. The radio station had been disconnected since February of this year for an outstanding balance, but was discovered this week to be receiving supply, via an illegal connection, the release said.

The release said that in Kingston, a cold storage operation was recently discovered to be stealing electricity to the tune of $500,000 per month.

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Radio station owner said among 711 arrested for electricity theft

Store owner on cocaine rap denied bail

A store owner, who is accused of transporting eight and three quarter pounds of cocaine, was denied bail in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Michael Douglas is charged with possession of, dealing in, conspiracy and taking steps to export cocaine.

The Crown alleges that, on July 9, the police acting on information intercepted a white Toyota motor vehicle along Half-Way Tree Road.

The vehicle was searched and one rectangular parcel allegedly containing cocaine in a multicoloured sheet set was discovered on the back seat of the vehicle Douglas was driving.

The accused was arrested and taken into custody.

A further search of the vehicle resulted in other parcels allegedly being found concealed in fitted sheets.

When cautioned by police, Douglas told them, “mi waan talk to mi lawyer”.

Senior Resident Magistrate Georgiana Fraser refused bail because the accused failed to give police a satisfactory answer to having a place of abode.

It was said that he told the police he stays at various hotels across the Corporate Area.

The matter was subsequently set for mention on August 13.

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Store owner on cocaine rap denied bail

Firearm owner fined $50,000 for negligence

Bjorn Burke, Staff Reporter

A man who left his licensed firearm in his motor car, resulting in it being stolen, was ordered to pay a fine or face imprisonment when he appeared before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Charged with loss of a firearm through negligence is Wayne Wray.

The allegations are that on June 3, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Wray parked his motor car outside a premises at Acadia Drive, Kingston 8. On leaving his car, Wray reportedly placed his gun inside his briefcase, which he placed under the driver’s seat, leaving the vehicle to enter a building. It is reported that on his return, Wray discovered that the rear window of his vehicle had been shattered. The briefcase containing the firearm, along with several other valuables was taken from the vehicle.

The court heard that security camera footage of the robbery in progress was handed over to police personnel as evidence.

During the proceedings, Wray’s attorney called three witnesses to the witness stand, all of whom gave glowing testimonies about the character of the accused.

witness

“He is a law-abiding Christian citizen, … always cognisant of the law, and has a tradition in his family of legal officers,” said one witness.

“Wayne is somebody whom I have the highest regard for … I know he is most honourable. Someone who is most committed to doing things that are good, and right and decent,” said another.

Seemingly quite impressed with how three diverse witnesses could speak so glowingly about the accused man’s character, Senior Resident Magistrate lauded Wray, noting that the incident appeared to be a momentary lapse of judgement.

Subsequently, the sitting magistrate ordered Wray to pay a fine of $50,000 or serve six months in prison.

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Firearm owner fined $50,000 for negligence