A woman was fined J$10,000 after she pleaded guilty to stealing two packs of milk powder from a supermarket.
Ann Bryan, who appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court Wednesday, told the court that she was under a lot of strain at the time, and that it was the first time something of that sort had happened.
According to Bryan, she had the money and it was unfortunate that she attempted to leave the store with the items without paying.
She, however, said that when she was accosted she offered to pay for the Lasco, but her offer was refused.
“How unfortunate,” Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey said.
She was subsequently sentenced to pay the fine.
Racquel Porter
Stealing is a crime and I understand penalty must serve as a deterrent but these courts exercise no amount of common sense and it’s always the poor that suffers.
If the woman can’t even afford 2 milk powders (how much do they cost?), are they expecting her to go steal $10,000 to pay the fines…in lieu of the fine, then I’m guessing she has to serve time, I wonder how much time.
Didn’t the Good Book say, don’t condemn a thief if he steals bread because he’s hungry?
Some people just tief fi tief sake, or else she wouldah seh she can’t pay it. Same way she going to find di money fi pay di fine, is di same way she couldah find it fi buy di milk powdah wah cost way less. Well a wondah if she a count up how much milk powdah and milk she couldah did buy wid dah 10 gran…
She sound like ah compulsive teef (thieFt) suh she need fi learn. Dem shoulda add public flogging tuh dat fine cah she coulda duh betta…:travel
mi haffi laugh jah know dat is about $86 U.S dollars. fine har rass yes