Man pleads guilty to stealing $40,000 cell phone

A man, who pleaded guilty to grabbing a woman's bag, which contained a cellular phone valued at $40,000, was offered bail when he appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.

The man, identified in court as Michael Laing, pleaded guilty to larceny from the person when he appeared before parish judge Carlo Mason. Laing is expected to have a special hearing relating to a charge of unlawful possession of property. The court was told that the complainant was conducting business in the vicinity of North Parade, when Laing grabbed her bag containing the phone and escaped. The complainant reported the incident to a police officer and provided a description of Laing, including that he was limping away after he grabbed her bag.

Laing, who resides in the Kingston Central Police Division, was apprehended two days after the incident and was arrested and charged. During a bail application, an attorney-at-law, who offered to assist in the matter, submitted that Laing is a vendor in the downtown area, and had no previous convictions.

The prosecutor, who sought guidance from a police investigator, implored Judge Mason not to offer Laing bail, as he is not well-known, and is unemployed.

However, the judge offered Laing $250,000 bail with at least two sureties. Laing must abide to a daily curfew and report to the police twice weekly. A stop order was also imposed on him. Also, as a condition of his bail, Laing is not to visit the Parade area of downtown Kingston, specifically Orange Street, King Street and Princess Street.

"For now, you can sell on Luke Lane," the judge informed Laing.

He also ordered that Laing should be fingerprinted. He is to return to court on May 27 when he is to be sentenced.

- T.T.