Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson ordered a man who stole several lengths of steel rods from a woman to pay a fine of $30,000 or face the alternative of 12 months imprisonment when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
Thirty-nine-year-old Garfield La Rose of East Ruimveldt Squatting Area pleaded guilty to the charge of simple larceny.
According to the facts of the case on December 26, at East Ruimveldt, La Rose stole 15 lengths of steel rods valued $30, 000 from the home of Abigail Bagavehems. “Look your worship, I does smoke and dat day is just one rod on de road I find so I pick it up,” La Rose told the court in his defence.
He said Bagavehems’s reputed husband saw him with the length of steel in his hands and told him that several were missing. “He tek way de steel rod and give me some broad side round me back fuh de steel but I swear dat is only one steel rod I thief,” La Rose added.
However, the prosecution submitted that on the day in question around 10am Bagavehems was at her East Ruimveldt home when she heard a strange sound coming from her yard.
When the woman looked out her front window she saw La Rose walking out of her yard with a length of steel in his hand. She raised an alarm and La Rose ran away but public-spirited persons gave chase and soon caught him.
Bagavehems them made checks at her home and discovered that 14 other steel rods were missing. A report was made to the police station and La Rose was arrested. When he was told about the allegations, the prosecution said, he admitted guilt. He was later charged.
