spanish town

A St Catherine mother and son, who breached the Rent Restriction Act when they dismantled the roof of a house rented to a woman, felt the force of the law when they were convicted in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Friday. Mario Anderson was given 30 days hard labour, while his 61-year-old mother, Margaret Miller, was given 30 days, suspended for six months.

Arresting officer Woman Constable Rashel Henry from the Spanish Town Police Station told Senior Resiident Magistrate Lorna Errar that on December 1 the complainant, who had been living at the house in Gordon Pen for months, was out when she received calls from neighbours, saying her landlady and son were atop the house, dismantling the roof.

When she returned there was no roof. Following a report to the police, the mother and son were charged with breach of the rent restriction act.

In their defence, they claimed the woman was not paying rent for her accommodation.