A Linden man, caught on camera robbing a store, attempted to justify his actions to a city court yesterday by saying that the store owner owed him money.
The court heard that between the 10th and 11th January, Collin Boston, 51, of 75 Wismar Housing Scheme, stole $150,000 from Dominic Blair at the Mackenzie market, Republic Avenue, Linden.
According to the police prosecutor, on the day in question, Blair secured his shop, which is located at the Mackenzie market and left, leaving the quantity of money behind.
When he returned the next day, the man discovered that his money was missing and so proceeded to check the security cameras in the store, where he observed Boston removing the money.
The matter was reported to the police and Boston was subsequently arrested and charged. None of the missing money was recovered.
The defendant, given a chance to speak, told the court that while he admitted to the offence, he only committed the act because the complainant had owed him money for a job he’d done for him. Boston added that it was himself and another man who was also cheated out of his money by Blair that committed the crime, but that he was the only one who had confessed.
The complainant, Blair, told the court that in order for them to move to have the matter dismissed, he wanted Boston to pay him $20,000.
Boston opined that if Blair claimed he stole $150,000, why was it that he was only asking for a repayment of $20,000 to drop the matter. The accused went on to state that he had in fact only stolen $20,000 and that that money was divided amongst himself and his accomplice.
After hearing the matter, Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan ordered Boston to pay $150,000 to Blair by February 5th or face 12 months in prison.
