Young woman jailed for theft of $600 from relative

Love has been lost between two relatives, and the police called in, after one stole $600 from the other.

On March 20, Tracey McKenzie of Fitzhughes gave her relative Catoya Lett, a 24-year-old domestic worker, $1200 to do business transactions in Kingstown on her behalf. Later that day, Lett returned to McKenzie’s residence with $500, and groceries worth $100, telling the complainant that she had lost $600 of the $1200, and that she would pay her back.

McKenzie made her own inquiries and received “certain information,” according to the facts read by the court police.

This information caused her to report the matter to the police and Lett was arrested for theft. Last Monday, the defendant was brought before the Serious Offences Court, and pleaded guilty to the offence. This was her first conviction before a court.

Lett’s guilty plea was a mitigating feature, but Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias found it aggravating that she breached the trust of her relative.

Lett was ordered to compensate $600 forthwith or go to prison for three months, and she was bonded for six months in the sum of $1500. If she breaches the bond within this time she must pay this or spend six months in prison.

The 24-year-old did not pay the compensation by the end of the court session for the day, and was taken away in prison transport.