Two convicted of electricity theft
A Kingston woman who admitted to racking up $3,440 in electricity bills by illegally connecting to the utility company’s power lines, was on Thursday fined $10,000 or 30 days in jail.
Sophia Bolton, who pleaded guilty with explanation when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court, used the illegal connection to supply power to a deep freeze, refrigerator and video player. The court was also told that she had begun efforts to become a legitimate Jamaica Public Service Company customer.
When Resident Magistrate Jennifer Straw asked Bolton why she had been using an illegal connection, the woman blurted out a few inaudible words and smiled at the petite magistrate.
“You have no explanation,” RM Straw told her.
Bolton’s smiled transformed into a frown after the RM informed her of the $10,000 fine.
Meanwhile Everton Henry, who was arrested on a similar charge, was fined $4,000 or 30 days. He was brought before the court after the police caught him lying in bed, watching television at a Waltham Park Road address.
Henry at first pleaded not guilty to the charge and told the court that he did not reside at the address. He gave his address as Trinityville, St Thomas; claimed that the Waltham Park residence belonged to his mother who had recently died, and said he had simply been there to remove furniture.
“Move furniture? Then what you doing lying in bed watching TV? Don’t come here and tell a bag a lie, you know,” RM Straw shot back.
She then ordered that Henry be remanded in custody until his real address was verified.
When he was called back to the dock, the accused man asked to be allowed to change his plea. After receiving a stern chiding from RM Straw, Henry’s fine was read out to him.