St Catherine mother and daughter each fined $350,000 for stealing electricity

A St Catherine mother and daughter were on Tuesday each fined $350,000 or 30 days' imprisonment in the parish court for stealing electricity.

The mother, Miriam Jones, and her daughter Angela Batchelor pleaded guilty to abstracting electricity.

The court heard that they have been without a legal connection at their premises since 2017.

The court was informed that on February 27, Jamaica Public Service (JPS) personnel and the police conducted an operation in Bushy Park near Old Harbour where it was observed that illegal wires were connected to a JPS power line to supply a shop and a house.

It was indicated that refrigerators, television sets, deep freezers and other items were consuming power.

A technician calculated the bill at $9,500 per month.

Meanwhile, from an operation in McCooks Pen, another woman, Suzan Monroe, was also charged for abstracting electricity.

Monroe also pleaded guilty was similarly fined $350,000 or 30 days' imprisonment.

The woman, who is employed as a call centre worker, told the judge that she was aware of her wrongs, but still continue due to issues with JPS.

She told the court that she bought the house and after it was rewired, she was made aware of an outstanding bill by the previous owner.

"Me couldn't get in touch with him and mi decided not to pay it."

She had Wi-Fi Internet, computers, a television, a refrigerator and other items consuming power illegally.

In the meantime, several other persons also appeared in court for illegal abstraction of electricity and they pleaded not guilty and were given various court dates.

Senior Parish Court Judge Yvette Wenthworth-Miller informed the accused that the maximum fine for abstracting electricity is $2,000,000.

- Rasbert Turner

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