A man who stole several pieces of steel from a construction site was ordered by the court to pay compensation to the victim.
Samuel Christmas appeared before Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel and initially pleaded not guilty to larceny – an offence which reportedly occurred in 2023 at Mount Joy.
The police had alleged that he stole 53 lengths of 20 feet half-inch steel valued $164. However, his lawyer, Wendel Alexander, filed submissions contesting the quantum of steel stolen since Christmas had admitted to the police that he removed eight lengths of 20 feet half-inch steel from the site where a building was under construction.
Based on those submissions, to which the prosecution agreed, amendments were made to the charge, altering the amount of steel allegedly stolen and the value, resulting in Christmas changing his plea to guilty.
The Dominican man was also charged for a having a camouflage camera, believed to have been stolen, in his possession. But the prosecution decided to withdraw that charge.
The court therefore placed him on probation for one year, admonishing him to be of good behaviour. Additionally, Christmas was given seven days to pay $164 compensation to the complainant, which is the value of the stolen steel.