After losing her cool and verbally abusing her neighbour, Kowsilla Singh was yesterday fined $15,000.
The encounter occurred after Singh had played music loudly, disturbing a community meeting being conducted by neighbour Tarawattie Bovell.
Prosecutor John Singh told Magistrate Zamilla Ally at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court that Bovell went over to her neighbour’s home and asked for the volume of the music to be lowered. Singh’s husband complied and he and his wife got into a vicious argument over his action.
After the argument subsided, the prosecutor said, Singh went over to Bovell’s shop to make a purchase. He said Bovell then told the woman that she played the music loudly although she knew there was a community meeting.
He said Singh was taken aback by Bovell’s accusation.
According to Bovell, Singh told her, “Why I don’t go to courts and tell them to stop sell the f***ing music; nobody can’t mek she turn off the music…,” while hurling other vile abuse at her.
Singh, who pleaded guilty, told the court she was very sorry but did not know there was a community meeting going on.
She said, “I went to the shop and to buy phone-card and she [Bovell] start embarrassing me, and both of we exchange words.”
The magistrate then fined her $15,000 and she became distressed. She began to explain to the court that she could not pay the amount. However, she was met with loud words from the prosecutor. “When can you pay it?” he demanded. “Next week? Next month? When?”
The woman was confused and turned to her father, who shook his head and told the court he was going to pay the fine.
