$2,000 for 12 coconuts
Dominica News Online - Thursday, September 13th, 2012 at 2:58 PM
Henry Samuel of Kingshill has been slapped with a hefty $2,000 fine after pleading guilty to stealing twelve coconuts from his neighbor’s tree.
Samuel was also ordered to pay compensation of $24 to the owner.
According to the prosecution, at about 8:00 am on September 10th, Samuel was working in his garden which borders the property of the complainant.
The complainant then received information that Samuel was seen on his tree picking coconuts.
The complainant immediately went to his property in Wallhouse but did not see Samuel. He proceeded to the police station where he made a report.
Samuel was met at his residence in Kingshill, arrested and brought to the police station. He told officers at the station that he climbed the tree but only took four coconuts which he drank. None of the coconuts were recovered.
In a plea of mitigation for his client, attorney Peter Alleyne informed the court that the defendant and the complainant have not been on speaking terms for some time. He told Magistrate Candia George that this situation could have been settled out of court and urged her to give his client some time to pay the fine.
Magistrate George informed the defendant that the minimum penalty for the offence was $2,000 according to legislation and told him that she could not alter the fine but will give him time to pay it.
Samuel is to pay the compensation of $24 by Friday or face 1 week behind bars and the $2,000 fine by 31 August, 2013.
Meanwhile bus driver Finley “Jah Bless” Defoe of St. Joseph is set to reappear in court April 4th after pleading not guilty to threatening a police officer. Defoe was bailed in the sum of $5,000 and has to report to the Roseau Police station every Monday.
Dave Trini Alley of Bellevue Chopin is also set to reappear in court on that day for a similar matter. He was also charged with driving vehicle registration number TE 361 without insurance.
He is being represented by attorney at law Renee Butcher.
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92 Comments
Violating someones private space for the selfish purpose of stealing is wrong and should not be encouraged. Furthermore the defendant admitted to not being on speaking terms with the plaintiff, which is even greater reason for avoiding the man’s property.
In Dominica there is this culture of ‘freeness’ which is pervading society where everyone think that they have unimpeded access to peoples possessions for free.
Indeed the punishment may appear steep but it is there to serve as a deterrent. You have to realise that stealing has gotten out of hand in Dominica these days from top to bottom.
well we know wher jah bless is at now every monday! :P XD
I am reading some of these comments, and I am amazed at the responses them
We always hearing people complaining about thieves taking all their produce all the time, and people still have the guts to say why should the man call police on the thief. The man was called because some one was seen stealing fro his land, and this is not the first time. Yes more justice needs to be done in other cases, but let justice be done in this one. Farmers are being robbed everyday, so let the thieves pay. Everyday thieves are asking me to buy cherries, mangoes, kenips, coconuts, dasheen, bananas etc…. all of which belongs to farmers. Leave farmers make their daily bread in peace. All those people that are taking the thief side, I hope you will be happy when this happens to you. I just don’t understand some Dominicans.
Good. He will think twice again when tempted to steal. Nonsense!
2 GRAN
I not saying he was right to take the man coconut but that really had to go court… the Dpp could have settle that outside we instead of make the man pay an arbitrary 2 gran for COCONUT. So much coconut that rotting on tree in Dominica. Just the other day I was in Carib Territory passing on the trail from Horseback Ridge and The amount of coconuts I see rotting on trees was a shame. But to charge a man 2 gran for climbing a tree and picking coconuts for his personal consumption feels wrong to me. Make the man pay the fella 200 but 2 gran is exorbitant.
u kno
i hope when he die he goes with coconut that not nice what did
i hope when he die he goes with coconut that was not good what goes around comes around sometime
u have toleave something in godhand
my boy, the ’2 gran’you are talking about is not for the coconuts. He had to pay the owner $24 for his coconut. The ’2 gran’ he have to pay is to try and prevent him from stealing yours or worst MINE. We, the farmers and the people who try their best to have what they have, are fed up with these unwanted harvesters.
Why didn’t he ASK?
chubby did not steal any coconut yet he was jailed.cmon coconut such abundance.
Zor passa copwan?
The $2000 is the the minimum penalty for the offence …for the offence/ crime of STEALING.
the $2000 is not to pay the man for the coconuts.
The man was charged $24 in the form of compensation to the owner – which is in fact $2 per coconut. This is cheap – because a coconut these days is not even $2 outside of Dominica.
The minimum fine for the offence is $2000 – the system works…stop blaming the courts for not understanding the decision.
Pa met – so they have allu in Dominica – everything is topsy turvy in allu brain -Understand people, understand.
If you are commenting on the injustices within the system – that’s fine, but do not blame the judge for handing out the MINIMUM penalty for the crime.
If the victim had done something to the criminal, then it’s a different story. I am happier that he took the man to court to teach him a lesson as opposed to him doing something that wouldn’t be worth the $2 per coconut.
It’s the lesson behind the story which is important
actually i think he was fined $2000 …money for the government…and the $24 is to be given to the plaintiff
what did you think I said? HONESTLY
2000 is the set fine – who do you think gets the court $$…
And the plaintiff is the person who owns the coconut tree…
this is the point hat I am trying to make – some Dominicans fail to read and understand – they just like to comment
Lol…
all the same Chubby did not steal.
Chubby’s song:COCO SEC comes to the forefront after years!stealing is a crime,but the fine is really steep!!think twice future thieves!
Coconut tree owner, Ha you get $24.00, the court received $2,000. more than you received did it make sense. is your property fence in. you could have charge him for the coconuts,in Dominica there are more important issue than carrying some-one to court for petty thing, court makes monies, you make nothing, pure bad mine. I can send you for free, two boxes of coconut from my trees, because we don’t have much use for them.I grew them for shade, they look good coming up my drive way.
You must understand something…The man is not on speaking terms with man. We all act harsh when people we don’t deal with trespass on our property. The man has no right to take what does not belong to him. Every time the court makes a decision in Dominica, people has so much to say. Who like a person to steal what they plant in their garden to sell for to make their living. If it bothers you so much, you can always pay the fine for him…..Stealing is stealing….The man was wrong.
best comment
poo un coco….. sa ou can fer moi pour un coco..
All steal is steal camem!.. I hope those that stealing money all over the place gets charges heftily as well!
even the court system trying to bring down poor people……………24 for the man for his coconut and 2000 for the court………really now????????????the coconut was the man own
…a lot of these comments have me laughing all over the place
….but it ain’t funny….DA have it own special heights….
$2000 for 12 coconuts and no charge for a SUB MACHINE GUN. OH HOW I LOVE THE SISSEROU LAND
$24.00?? Haha. Complainant, was it worth your time and effort? You just want to make Henry pay something because you all are not on speaking terms. Doh worry, what goes around comes around..ask Chubby. Hope that $24 can buy you a box of chicken. wicked.
this just reminds of the song chubby sings
How would you feel is it was you. Would you like some one to steal from you?
I am sure this could have been settled out of court. Why spoil someone’s rep just for 2 coconuts, and end up getting nothing for them?
pour un coco where is choby .
2,000 for coco
I mean come on!!!for coconuts man? I sure d owner doe even want them. They probably staying and fall. Regardless if its his own or not sometimes we have 2 let things go. I’m just finding that this was stupid. Anyway my boy pay ur $2000 and doe worry eh smh
Its not for coconuts its the principle… trespassing on people’s property and taking what is not theirs repetitively he was becoming a menace.
People have to learn to respect other people’s property. So any body can just come and steal in people’s garden and it is alright. Well. I suppose everybody can voller anything they want, and everything is cool. Just take what you want, and go….No big deal….eh ber weh papa!!!
what kind of justice is that? i never new that utter colonial foolishness still exist in our commonwealth country .
d dam court is just a waste all does magistrate are defence magistrates,police dnt hv d erge to take anyone befor these ppl no more
We should respect each other’s property but I just find that highly outrageous for charging somone all that money for some coconuts.
Vey ridiculous verdict.
He had no right to trespass on the man’s land and steal the man coconuts.
Some people are too bold. Maybe he is used to stealing the coconuts, but is now they catch him…Some are people too bold man.
you are so lost my dear. Be sure you don’t take anything at my home without asking me. Not even a thief likes another thief. Let the system work people. It could have been 1 coconut. Who ever say is coconut alone he came for…. that was the fastest thing to roll out with. THIEF don’t have friends nor feelings.
i just scrolled down and saw a comment saying that its his habit…the people buying the stolen properties from him are worst than him…..they are the ones who encourages him to steal…if they did not buy then he would have no reason to steal…he did not steal 12 coconuts to eat
please punish these people….
I know of an individual with neighbors who steal from him. When he talks to them they say he is greedy. He has caught 10 of them on his farm. They steal everyday. We never know what this man was facing probably he said enough is enough.
sad …..i really believe that we should try to stop crime by taking all crimes seriously……who did he sell these coconuts too?……
make a deal with him….ask him to give their names and he will go free…then charge the ones who bought the stolen coconuts a significant amount of money…
even if is one coconut they bought….people know who have gardens and who don’t…they know these guys are thieves….and they buy from them
giving him a high fine is not going to stop him from stealing in the future..he’s going to go to jail come out and steal again…go back to jail get out and steal agAIN…..
CHARGE THE people who buy from them and they wont have a market to sell to
I agree!
it cost less to kill your neighbour than steal 12 coconuts from him .dominica law sucks …but why did they charge him for 12 when he say he only took four and they didnt get none .where is the evidence
He and his neighbor are not on friendly terms yet he trespassed onto the property, climbed the tree and stole the coconuts. Trespassing and stealing are crimes.
Some people look for trouble. Exactly what was in his mind? Did he not think that he could have been caught or that someone would see him? If the neighbour is a really bad person and had seen him, he could also have been injured or murdered.
If they were on friendly terms he could have asked the neighbor and hope that the neighbor would be generous and give him a few coconuts.
The neighhbour could have first tried to talk to him and ask him to return the coconuts or to pay for them. If he refused, there are three alternatives: to let it be, forgive him or take him to Court.
God forgives. He blesses and graces those who do. Why not we for our benefit, peace of heart, mind and happiness and our souls? Personally, I would chose the two first ones and warned him, be it in the form of a letter, that if he stole again, he will be taken to Court. He deserves a warning.
The magistrate is correct. This could have been settled out of Court. Some people take others to Court for the simplest of matters. They clog the Court(s) with stupid cases which could have been settled out of it.
What some people of the world need now is “Love, Sweet, Love”. Peace perfect peace.
Justice and Truth, ho many times has he done that. Why was he and his neighbour nor speaking….We can only judge because we do not know all the details. People have a habit of stealing people’;s produce everyday as though they planted it, and they sell it. Let us be objective here. Do you think the owner don’t have a good reason for going to his garden hen he was told that the guy was seen picking his coconut. Everywhere there are coconut trees, some people feel they can just pick and drink when they want, sell when they want, and the person that owns he garden loses every time. This is not fair. There is a certain that stole coconut from our coconut tree, and he came to ask me if I buying coconut. It is who in the kitchen that feels the heat. Some people just like to run their mouth without knowing the whole story. The Bible says, THOU SHALL NOT STEAL…
@ set up
Let us say we hope the man learned a lesson for it has cost him some dollars which he probably does not have. Did the magistrate ordered him to stay away from his neighbor’s property? If he cannot pay the $2,000 fine he will end up in prison.
I hope that the rift between them will not grow worst. It is the worst thing to be enemies with one’s neighbors. It could be a living Hell. Who knows what the result of this could be? People must try to get along with others. Many do not possess that godly trait of “loving thy neighbor” and interacting amicably with others as also on this Website. They need to take a course on how to get along well with others/neighbors.
i honestly think judges such as george and the law makers who continue to follow and give such ridiculous sentences for things such as these petty offences today and turn around and grant bail to people who openly attempted to execute police officers in order to commit a robbery SHOULD TO BE EXECUTED BY LAW .i think any judge in a country like dominica and these matters come to a court should be thrown out , i wonder when last the owner had a coconut from that very tree ?
Learnt he law my friend…that was not a hefty fine. An act of theft was committed! Coconut, sugar, bread, tv, clothes, whatever it is. He lucky isa fine alone he get. What the hell you doing in ur neighbors yard taking what does not belong to you? A simple permission would have sufficed…he take twelve…with the intent to sell and make a profit…good!
Why don’t you ask him…..People always vollering his coconuts. Don’t you understand.
Well done Madame, only the fine should have been higher. I am a victim of coconut theft repeatedly. I do not know what to do but to take the law into my own hands. that I will venture to do.
Shear your coconuts bro,victim of what??? chupes !!
Those thieves need to be taught a lesson. Leave people things alone….Too much sticky fingers, and people buying the coconuts they know is stolen…. This is like a habit those thieves have. Let them pay.
i just scrolled down and saw a comment saying that its his habit…the people buying the stolen properties from him are worst than him…..they are the ones who encourages him to steal…if they did not buy then he would have no reason to steal…he did not steal 12 coconuts to eat
please punish these people….
I cant read,2000 dollars for what CAN SOME ONE TELL ME !!!!!
I find the fines to be ridiculous. Why didn’t the $2000 go to the owner of the coconuts and the $24 to the state?
I will never understand our system.
2000 dollars for 12 coconuts but talk to you later for murder and bail for people caught right handed with kilos of cocaine…….come on man, that thing getting rediculous now…….
next time you need to steal goverment coconut instead,because you are paying more to the goverment than the owner.
2000 Eastern Caribbean Dollars for 12 coconuts? Papamete you would swear is a different kind of coco de man steal there oui! We not easy in Dominica boy, and de lady with de crayfish had to pay 400 ECD oui……yes I, my brother!
coconut look grater…..lmao
This is ludicrous. reminds me of 3 strikes you are out in the USA. Looks like there is a money printing machine in DA. If it is a habitual crime he should be sent away for awhile. What guideline did this judge ? This is simply not right !
The justice system is due for a checup.
While I am not condoning the act I think the law system is very bias. All penalty should carry same weight! That’s what law is Anyway humans make them. I prefer principles cuz a principle never changes.
well well well $2000 for coconut i guess what is wasted in the country side is precious in the city area after all that man is wicked a d@mmm coconut he cannot drink the whole tree of coconut wow
I remember the days from my village, when anyone could take a coconut that have fallen and it was not a problem. This neighbor may need help one day from this same person.
The man does not talk to the voller. They are enemies…… He had no right to take the man’s coconut.
that judge just wanted to make headlines by slapping on a fine like that.. murderers in Dominica are given 5 year sentencing, robbers are given time off for petrifying people’s lives, sub machine unlicensed guns are found yet perpetrators are allowed to go scot free.. this man was most likely thirsty and wanted a drink and had a coconut and he has to pay $2000.. the neighbour himself couldn’t make an arrangement with this man? shame on the neighbour and shame on the judge.. mark you i’m not condoning what he did.. thou shall not steal .. but give me a break.. so much darn coconut and other fruits that are wasting in Dominica and you want to take the hairs of the man private for a coconut? come on man
why the hell poor ppl always gettin charged wid some heavy fines n other big crimes gettin kick outed or even charged little money
They should learn not to steal and go work for theirs.
was it the coconuts on the recent ‘picture of the day’… if it was… then the fine is worth it
lol… i’m not laughing the man but the situation… i.e laughing the system of things in dominica… hahaha
Wow that’s about $167. per coconut. That’s a bit much though but padna I’m sure after that you will be closing your eyes or turning your head every time you see a coconut.
I think this $2,000 is for time wasted in court not for actual stealing of the 12 coconuts
Well sar!Dejavu.Midnigght groovers.These laws
were initiated when Chubby and a few guys were
placed in jail for a few coconuts.Guess what
happened afterward.While I do not condone
breaking the law but the Magistrate could use her
discretion.And for a neighbour to call police
for a neighbour for some coconuts is also
apalling.Considering coconuts falling all over the islands.Wrong to pick the coconut I agree.
Calling police was probably could be avoided
$2000.00 for eight or twelve coconuts is Crazy
Can’t we get along…..Words of Rodney King.
Aye Dominique!
Make up your mind flip flopper you cant have it both ways.
firstly teh article stated that he walked to the police station. 2ndly it seems the coconuts were stolen in malice because the two neighbors do not speak. As, you said coconuts are falling all over the place why did this neighbor not pick up one of those? & he was not ordered to pay the man $2000.00 he only has to pay $24 to the neighbor.. the $2000.00 is more of court fines and what the minimum fee for thievery is. This is why ppl should leave other ppl’s stuff alone. See and don’t touch.. a
How would you feel if people constantly stealing from your garden.
$166.66 per coco nut in dominica… weh weh weh
its actually $2.00 per coconut …which is why he paid $24 to the owner.
$2000 FOR TWELVE COCONUT ALAS WICKED JUDGE
is his habit..lol just thief..
Brother if I have to take those paros in Porssie to court for stealing my coconuts (1) the treasury would make some good money, I would be collecting $24 on every paro which is also a lot of $24 (2) I would feel less guilty of having to buy my own coconuts from them paros.
Boy that is a stiff fine for 12 coconuts
2000 for Coconuts BUT 400 for exporting wildlife.. AWA Wii!!!!
Pou vingt coco, c’est ca ou ka feh mwen! LOL Look things.
c’est pou douze coco
Pou yon cocoa…Where is Chubby and the Midnight Groovers when you need them?
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
I am not condoning any form of crime, but $2,000 for 12 coconuts? Come one man! Meanwhile the drug dealers, persons in possession of illegal weapons, etc. are getting a slap on the wrist.
Why de court getting $2000 and de person robbed of their coconut only getiing 24$, is that I want to know?
that 2000 going towards paying my salary as a civil servant, lol
if he stealing coconut to sell tell me were he going to find money to pay your salary or maybe you should start selling coconut to
For Court costs I suppose. Consider all who are involved in the case and their salary. The magistrate, prosecutor, police, court clerk, security, computer and paper work. Nothing comes cheap. The government has to pay its staff. This may also deter people from stealing property which does not belong to them. I hope so.
so why pay its staff on a poor man and not the drug dealers and credit union rubbers
Allyou starting to make me pissed off now yeh,,, taking all dis for a joke,,, you mean to tell me mista dem have a conscience, you mean to tell me a coconut cost $168.00 these days???
Garcon if D Marn was hungry now he whould starve???
is people like you so dat make them Albinos thing they are the superiors,,,
No body asked dem to come Set up a King’s Court on Dominica you know to administrate their arbitrary rules and regulation,,,
They Court System is a fail one and should be abolished!!!
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