Former national cricketer convicted for stealing fish

Photo credit: greenpeace.org site

Former national cricketer 43-year-old Clay Samuel of Soufriere has expressed little hope in becoming the man “he use to be” after pleading guilty to stealing four tuna fish valued at $100 from a catholic church in his community between July4 to 5, 2010.

Samuel, who appeared before Magistrate Ossie Lewis last week, said that he vividly remembered the days when he was a cricketer but, “to be honestly speaking, I cannot get back like that”, he said.

According to the facts of the case presented by the police prosecutor, the incident took place during the village’s St. Peter’s Feast celebrations.

“Cleviana Jno-Lewis of Soufriere is the secretary of the Catholic Convent situated at Soufriere. She received from four different fishermen, four whole tuna fish which she placed in the kitchen. On Tuesday July 6, 2010 Cleviana noticed that the fish was missing and the matter was reported to the police…” the prosecutor said.

The defendant admitted to stealing the fishes on July 14 when he was informed of the report by Constable D Seraphine. Constable Seraphine had not finished telling Samuel about the report when he blurted out “officer yes, is me that take the fish. I went to Roseau with the fish and I sold it. I don’t even know the people I sold it  to,” the police prosecutor stated.

Samuel told police that he had bought some food and smoked the rest of the proceeds from the sale.

During mitigation Samuel asked the court for leniency, claiming “I am a working person.”

He contended that he did not steal from the church, but from the parish priest. “It’s not actually the church … The tuna belonged to the parish priest…”

According to him, he served as a wicket keeper/ batsman on the Dominica Cricket Team and represented the country at least three times in his earlier years.

“I would prefer if you give me a fine,” he further pleaded to Magistrate Lewis.

Samuel was ordered to pay the compensation of $100 and fined $300 which he has to pay by July 23, 2010 or he faces two weeks and 10 weeks prison respectively.

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20 Comments

  1. Zang
    July 20, 2010

    the SECRETARY has a right to report STEALING to the police. The church and government is now separated. It is up to the individuals that he has stolen from to forgive him. Shayte man all making the matter so complicated. There is a psychiatrist in P>M>H who can already help him. Where is his family?

    If she did not report it all of all you would say the secretary stealing from the church. Ms. Tav. do your thing.

    YE WHO HAVE NOT SINNED CAST THE FIRST STONE!

  2. Anonymous
    July 20, 2010

    he shoudn’t steal. even worse from a priest

  3. July 20, 2010

    CONNTINUATION: I shared room with him along with others as members of the National Under 19 Cricket Team. In 1986 that team was captined by Albert Timothy and included players like Curt Pierre, Darwin Telemaque, Pellam Jno Baptiste, Eustace Marshall, John “finn”Prosper, Curtis Jno Baptiste, Joslyn Deluge, Andy Joseph( i am not sure about this player), Eric Williams, Clay Samuel and others whose names I cannot reacall. It is sad that such talent can disappear so easily just by taking a piece of Crack, just the first piece. I will continue to pray for all those who like Clay Samuel made that mistake to get involved in such a deadly activity. This mad hit a ball all the way over the Bsket Ball Court at the Windsor Park from the Gardens End on the Windsor Park Batting Strip in the 1986 Windward Youth Tournament. Some dayg the real criminals will be caught and dealt with.PEACE.
    ,

  4. July 20, 2010

    It is sad to witness the life of a man that promised so much as a sportsman. I too played national cricket with Clay Samuel; and he was my friemd then and he is my friend today. I too could have been like him but for some reason God took me away from drugs. Clay is not himself and anyone who gets involved with drugs will end up like Clay and no one is immuine to the effects of drugs. This is why we all MUST join in the fight against the individuals destroying our youth with this poison and not hide them,Most of you know tyhe man Clay as he is today a Drug Addict, but, I

  5. another joke
    July 19, 2010

    I really wonder at the comments.
    Clay Samuel may have been a great cricketer, he also had many other sporting talents.
    But the bottom line is…. he is on drugs.
    He steals, not just in Soufriere, but in Roseau as well.
    He also is a major plague, harassing tourists, following them around with a tale of an injured elbow, and what ever else. These are the plagues bringing negativity to our tourist industry, the Clays of the society.
    The people who choose to turn to drugs, have brought misery on themselves.
    They in turn become menaces in the community.
    Sad but true.
    This has become such a problem, we need to address rehabilitation for the likes of the Clays.

  6. child
    July 19, 2010

    @javelin…what you say make soo much sense……people go to the priest to confess when they have sinned against god and expect the priest to ask god for forgiveness for them ,but when a man steal from a priest (or sinned against the priest)they not being forgiven)makes us wonder??????????????????

  7. KAL FARIN
    July 19, 2010

    i can understand ossie’s sympathy for the guy, ossie being a student of cricket . i’m sure ossie covered this guy during his cricket days.This Paromania must be stopped before it is way too late.

  8. drugs hurt
    July 19, 2010

    i know clay personally and although drugs have interfered big time in his life he has perfectly good reasoning. I speak with him constantly and encourage him to try to get off that hard white stuff, but he always says that this is a battle he cannot fight alone. What does this mean…we need a rehabilitation center to take care of people like clay who are beyond their own capacity to help themselves and trust me people there are lots more like clay.

  9. July 19, 2010

    Not surprising he went to fish but the fish ran away and end up at the house of the God maybe if he was`nt high he would leave the fish alone. And some say that drugs does not affect a normal mind. Wheel and come again.

  10. rose
    July 19, 2010

    salop u really really really salop u full of s*** and u stink of it.

  11. Curt Pierre
    July 19, 2010

    I know Clay Samuel to be a very nice person, and all I can do is pray for him to turn that corner. Admitting guilt quickly was commendable (reflective of the guy I knew) instead of beating around the bush but, I believe a great opprotunity was missed when the church pursued this matter in court (“so called teacheable moment”, as per President Obama beer summit). Clay, as long as you have life I there is hope.

  12. javelin
    July 19, 2010

    The effects of drug, what a waste of talent. He didn’t have to take the fish but church/priest taking people to court for fish? I thought this was about forgiveness. He admitted to it and has a problem isn’t that where church function should be concentrated?

  13. C'est moi
    July 19, 2010

    It is really sad to see what has become of this former very good national cricketer. He promised so much. Hope he can be rehabilitated.

  14. not nice
    July 19, 2010

    the church preach forgiveness and look at that hmmm then you wonder why some people keep far from church? they should have forgiven the man…

  15. sunshinegual
    July 19, 2010

    What a pity, i remember Clay, he attended the Marigot Foundation High. Drugs has done a number on him and now he resorts to stealing fish. Lets lift up our hearts and lips in prayer for the deliverance the youth of our community. Lord Dominica needs you.

  16. TRUE DOMINICAN
    July 19, 2010

    @hmmmmm: it is on the decrease things like that happen every where not only in Dominica …………………. no one force him to use drug he needs help………….. we should be looking for ways to help him ………………… sir God is still in control he can help u

  17. D/can
    July 19, 2010

    I am so Glad that God is so Good that he did not leave it up to man to be my judge. Some of you Dominicans like to judge people and make negative comments on this blog. It seems as if you cannot wait for something to happen before u all can start. Remember the same measure that you use to judge will be used against you. What ever happened to sympathy, empathy, pray for your fellowmen, being your brothers’ keeper? We have all sinned and fallen short… He who is without sin cast the first stone. Many of us just have not yet been caught. As the song goes

    ” sa moi dovant, sau deyea”.

  18. July 19, 2010

    This is why we should give people roses after they die.what a shame..hope his name is not in the stadium.

  19. lisad
    July 19, 2010

    that’s what the demon of drugs does. The man admitted to smoking the rest of the proceeds.Guess he needed money to support his habit. now he has lost respect. They won’t even name a playing field after him far less for a stand at the stadium.
    Remember in life you can do as many good as possible but it takes only one bad move to destroy your good name. Anyway, you can find help if you need sir.

  20. hmmmmm
    July 19, 2010

    i thought poverty was on the decrease

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