A man was fined $30,000 or six months in prison when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday after a judge heard that he falsely reported that the police stole his wife's purse.

Charged with creating public mischief is Jonathan Francis.

The court heard that Francis, who was at the Norman Manley International Airport recently, lied to the cops because he didn't want his wife to leave the island.

It is reported that after a routine check of several pieces of luggage including that of the accused man's wife, Francis went to the nearby police station and reported that the cops stole his wife's purse from her suitcase.

Francis, who pleaded guilty with explanation, told the court that he didn't make a formal report at the station nor did he accused the police of stealing.

"Your Honour, after the police search my wife's luggage, we couldn't find her purse and so I went to the police station to ask for some assistance. I didn't accused the police and even after I did find di purse, I went back to the police and told them that I found it," the accused told the court.

However, in handing down her sentence Resident Magistrate Stephanie Jackson Haisley said that she had taken into account that Francis had pleaded guilty; however, he caused the police to waste taxpayers' money.