Generous lawyer pays fine

Rasbert Turner, Portmore Star Writer

Portmore resident Ann-Marie Young was spared a 10-day sentenced as her fine of $4,000 was paid by a lawyer in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court recently.

Attorney-at-law Leslie Campbell paid the fine after Young and seven other St Catherine residents were dragged before the court by the the Jamaica Public Service for abstracting electricity.

After all eight pleaded guilty to the offence and were each fined $4,000 or an alternative of 10 days hard labour, a representative from the Ministry of Social Security intervened.

The representative told the court that Young was living in a very troubled situation and was being interviewed for the PATH programme.

"We are seeking to intervene, your honour, as she is having bad experiences, one after the other including the auctioning of her house. We are therefore asking if she could get time to pay,'' the representative said.

Resident Magistrate Marcia Dunbar-Green said the sentence was already passed, moreover she would have to prove that she has stopped stealing the electricity.

The lawyer then further explained the meaning of the intervention and was told the verdict has already been handed down and that a proper message needs to be sent.

Campbell then told the court he would pay the fine for the woman. He paid and she walked freely from the prisoner's dock.