[www.inewsguyana.com] – A 26-year-old Guyanese man pleaded guilty yesterday to fraudulently diverting, abstracting, and consuming electricity from the Antigua Public Utility Authority (APUA) when he appeared in the St John’s Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel.
According to the facts, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers executed a search warrant at Orland Wilson’s home in Villa at about 6:45 am on April 13,
The lawmen were searching for an unlicensed firearm and a 42″ flat screen TV. Not only did the lawmen find a television matching this description, but, they noticed that a red tag was attached to the APUA electricity meter on the house.
Sergeant Findley asked Wilson about the tag, and he explained that APUA had disconnected the electricity in January.
He said since he did not have any money, he cut the tag off, opened the meter, and removed the plastic which was preventing the flow of current.
The defendant reconnected the current and then replaced the red tag. Wilson was subsequently taken into custody, arrested, and charged.
A report was made to APUA and the electricity supply to the house was disconnected again.
On the charges of abstracting and diverting current, Wilson was reprimanded and discharged. For the unlawful consumption of electricity, he was fined $900. The court ordered the father of two to pay $500 forthwith. The balance must be paid on or before May 1. In default, Wilson would be jailed for three months.
The police are continuing their investigation involving the television. (Reporting by caribarenaantigua news).
shameful