BY TASHIEKA MAIR, STAR Writer
western bureau
TENNYSON LAWRENCE, WHO absconded without paying a taxi driver he chartered, was remanded in custody on Tuesday after he told Montego Bay Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry that his relatives needed more time to pay the money.
Allegations are that in October of last year, the complainant, a taxi driver, was driving his cab along the Montpelier Main Road in St. James when Lawrence stopped him.
Lawrence told him that his car had broken down and he needed to charter a taxi to pick up three tourists in Negril. The complainant agreed to the charter for payment of $6,000.
BORROWED $3,000
When they arrived at the hotel, Lawrence went inside to make checks. He came out about five minutes later and borrowed $3,000 from the driver and told him that it was to pay for the tourists' hair-do but the tourists were not ready yet. He promised to pay the money back.
It is further alleged that he told the complainant to take him to a cambio to change some U.S. currency. However, when he left the car, the driver never saw him again until September 18 of this year when Lawrence stopped the same taxi in Ironshore, and asked to charter him again. The complainant drove until he saw a police officer. Lawrence was arrested and charged with larceny by trickery after the complainant made a report.
When he appeared before the court on September 21, he told the RM that his sister would assist him in paying the complainant $9,000. However, on Tuesday he told the court that he needed more time to pay the money.
His police records showed that he has three other similar convictions over the past few years in other parishes. He was therefore remanded in custody and will be sentenced on October 18.
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