A Salybia man who was employed at Malcolm Stevens and Company for 16 years can now kiss his job good bye.
Michael Auguiste, 38 and father of three, has pleaded guilty to the theft of one box of chicken frank (hotdogs) belonging to his place of employment amounting to $121.90.
His action costs him his job and a fine.
He appeared before a Roseau Magistrate’s Court on September 1, 2014.
Police Prosecutor Sergeant Davidson Cadette told the court that on August 29, Auguiste took a box of chicken frank and walked out the front door.
A few minutes later he handed it to a man known as Otis George of Pottersville.
One of the employees on duty contacted the Manager of the establishment, Malcom Stevens, immediately.
The manager then contacted the police, who soon arrived on the scene.
Auguiste was told of his actions and replied, “Yes I give a padner the box of chicken frank (sausage). I pass it through the front door and gave it to him.”
Police then went in search of George and found him under a tent at Pottersville selling hotdogs on a stick, among other food items.
When questioned he said, “Officer all my hotdogs I bought them by Green’s Wholesale and Wilson’s.”
He was transported to the Police Headquarters where he was further cautioned but he replied, “I do not have Malcolm Steven hotdogs.”
After Auguiste identified George as the man he sold the sausages to, he (George) finally confessed by saying, “The Carib that gave it to me.”
He was arrested for handling stolen goods.
In court magistrate Michael Bruney told George, “When you buy from a thief, you are encouraging theft…Goods smuggling from a workplace by employees, this must be discouraged.”
He added, “Paying back doesn’t solve the crime. The crime is committed already.”
Bruney took into consderation that both men pleaded guilty.
“You are both fathers, so there will be no custodial sentence,” Bruney said.
Auguiste was fined $1,500 to be paid by October 31, 2014, or in default of payment spend two months in prison. He was also ordered to pay compensation to Malcolm Stevens in the amount of $121.90 forthwith or spend one week in prison.
He also lost his job.
George was ordered to pay $1,750 by October 31, 2014 or spend ten weeks in prison if he fails to settle that fine.
If you must steal do it big time. Next time steal, embezzle, misappropriate millions and they will give you a judicial review before they charge you.
all those who a criticizing the police and the media for some stolen hotdogs maybe a thief should enter all u house and steal some food and let me see who will not be upset. smh
What a job loss. Sixteen years in a job and fired for theft of hot dogs and now has to pay a fine. The magistrate was compassionate to him that he was not jailed.
What a grave mistake he made. He will say, “If only I knew.” Yet, feel sorry for him and consider what he is going through. No doubt he learned a lesson.
He has three children to support. Will he ever get another job? Will he ever be trusted? A man deserves a second chance just as God gives us many chances. I hope some kind employer will employ him.
something is missing in that story did he steal or he gave . Why would he pass it though the front door while another employee was there . All u have jokes in DA wiiiii. haha
Man, I have a simple brain. Even if he gave it to his pal and did not make him pay, that is stealing because he would have given him something that is not his to give.
Whats wrong With forgivness.
it is sad and of poor choice to take a jab at other people’s misfortune. It is also poor choice of journalism to publish such pettiness. When do we learn empathy. We all make mistakes some might not steal a box hot dog but we are all sinners, those who choose to pass judgment, think twice.
i would not pay the fine, i would go to jail instead.
agreed wel said
sumthing missin
Rong is rong. He is paying alrite.but we still going boycott malcolm stevens.
spell check……
Only in Dominica does a man stealing hot dogs make national news.
Fourth World Nation.
Recalled some years ago, a black man stole some cooked food from priest’s home and received a 25 years sentence!
How about 8th? .90 % of news here makes me wonder what’s the definition of news more so Breaking news.
Where hasDA gone or has Snak/dropped to?
Cricket ej? Agriculture, respect, politics/integrity,
Honest, en Vole Govelment plus forte”-Eco voleur.”- ExileOne
Man steals Hotdog fine & Jail time.
Profiting from garbage bin, no time no fine. Land transfer fraud no jail nor fine . repeat individual goes on to bigger crimes. even saying no constitution no law can stop them.
This statement is on a level as treason. Not even a slap on the wrist. Are we civilized?? The answer in emphatically NO!
These are typical central America and African leaders manifestation of being en-route to dictatorship.
sank to.
There could be an amicable solution between the Manager and Mr. Auguiste. who was wrong but after all he can be forgiven. Why? he spoke the truth . Mr. Malcom Stephens did not have to call the police. How is Mr. Auguiste getting that amount to be paid by October 31st.
Is the amount to be paid equivalent to his wages. If so don’t pay him and let him keep his job. He has three children to support. Mr. Stevens please give Auguiste a second chance.
Satan is always present , so we must always rebuked him in Jesus Name
dats true the man worked 16 years
U serious police for some hotdogs…is this Dominica news…
So what about the ones who steal from the public’s purse?????????
there time coming bro
And those rapist and killer can walk free.I am not saying he should steal but Dominica is kwn for going hard on the little guys,Mean while the big ones walk around free.
I knew that the police would be blamed for Mr Augustine’s actions…those lousy cops taking a poor thief to court…..what’s next murders? blame the cops..always
It is very tempting to make money o the side illegally. Here is a story that involves me.
I am a industrial sales rep for my company and my annual sales are about $25 million per year. I make a very good income.
Every now ad again I run into a West Indian who wants to buy our product and I try my best to help them because I want to see our people prosper.
There is this one Jamaican guy I have sold a couple small orders to. One day while I was in his office he told me that he wants to make sure I get a piece of the pie and he would give me $5000.
Trust me, it was very tempting. But I thought for a minute, this does not even come close to my monthly income. I have worked at my firm for over 20 years, why would I jeopardize my years at my company, my income, my good name for what, $5000? And then I am in his pocket and he can then call the shots?
I told him I could not do that for any amount of money. As a matter of fact, later on I told him that because of the size of his business, he was better off dealing with another company that could better service his account. He was too small for what we supplied.
The long and short of the story is: before you embark on that kind of action, first consider the risk and what you have to lose compared to what you MAY gain. Let your conscience be your guide.
Noni lol!
You sound our good friend FET butit’s sure’s not FET as FET is retired and don’t like you need money lol.
Noni you could avoid the story and just said opportunity cost. That’s all. Finito.
See U Dumbs in cans love to boast. U are a liar you could have gone down for $25000.00
You are just another one like ur friends u talk about as ur foe.Team DA hahahahahahah you remind us so much of FET.
Are you from Wesley too? lol
In your case your salary is extremely high. I am not justifying the individuals actions stealing is stealing period. But there are many persons who work for very meager salaries and the temptation is very high to steal. Folks be content with what you have and do not steal from your employers.
you have a job, what you stealing for. In these hard times today, where you getting another job. you have children to support. you sacrifice a job you had for 16 years for one box of sausages. OMG
Seriously, the man just lost his job and now you want him to pay an additional $1,500.00!! Where you expect him to get that from Mr Bruney. The system is setting this man up to steal bigger to pay the court off. You are setting him u to fail.
Not even I who working can come up with an extra $1500 now now now.
I understand he is guilty of a crime and should “pay” for his crime, but should the “payment” cause him to go deeper into crime???
It is about time this system finds another way for people to “pay” for their crimes. What about Community Service? Dominica full of BUSH, give de man a cutlass and have him clean de road side for two months, or Roseau streets, dem too full of weeds. Work him in the hot sun or rain.
This will serve two purposes, free labour for much needed country cleaning, and everyone will see him serving his sentence, and maybe the ’embarrassment’ will detour him next time. And if not, we still have a cleaner country!!!
Trying to get money from people who doh have money = more crime!!
I support that 100%
Sorry…he set himself up to fail. Stop blaming other people when people should look at themselves.
We are our brother’s keeper. There is a thin line when one is tempted between right and wrong. Sometimes our situation pushes us to be dishonest. Also, our employers’ lack of consideration for our situations can also push us to be disloyal and steal from them. I do not support theft of any kind but we just need to put ourselves in other people’s shoes sometimes.
Noni Must speak! lol! You said to us U have a job that pays more than $5K/month working for the firm U spoke about.
You are so bribe proof what is $5K? Even a Paro would say it’s not enough for a fix.Pt, can Uot pay the fine for the Hotdog guy?
I don’t think you could have said this any better. fully support this.
The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God’s
When mercy seasons justice.
Merchant of Venice
I agree with you this is jus sending the man to commit more crime
Even the ones at Stock Farm right now should be out cleaning the streets/roadsides and keeping it clear of weeds and what else regularly.
Supporting wrong doing is equally wrong. Do you know how long this guy has been doing this? He should have saved up some money somewhere. Passers-by has been seeing this for a while now, anonymous reports made but not much evidence to report to the Police. This time he was caught right handed, God was at work on Friday, He could think of no excuse.
Mr. Stephen has been very generous to this guy in particular for 16 years. so Stop your hypocrisy. 99 days for the thief, one for the Police. If you care so much help him to pay for the crime. This money goes to the State no Malcolm Stephen.
The Lesson is this is never bite the hands that feed you!
DNO people are going to give me the thumb down but you know SC Lang Mama care to speak the truth unlike the other Senior Counsel that lies every second.
One big bubbles made out of crab foam is handling $8 million of stolen goods.
One Door that is EZ handled $2.6 million of stolen goods and the justice system is conducting a Slush Fund review for 3 years.
The Kalingo brother foolishly stole a box of minced rejected animal parts and some body blow the whistle and the cops came running in for the kill. Well some money launderers stole money from the treasury multiple times , Lennox Linton call them out including those who handled the money -those lawyers and guess who the COPS targeted? The whistle blower.
By the honorary legak professional status granteed to me Senior Counsel Lang Mama promise to deliver truth even in the face of adversity
All fingers up even toes for Lang Mama Thumbs up don’t cut it LM go for the kill the Jugular.
No Constitution can stop them unless someone does.
gwan SC Lang Mama
I do not condone any wrong doings at all…nonetheless this mans is employed there for 16 years,he might not be at his firts attempt of theft but was held for the first time…he could move on with a simply warning ,obliged him to pay and allow him to keep his job…i know he should have thought twice about his action but no man is perfect remember he have many children to feed,,,i know the trust is gone ….Do not steal what does not belong to you….
G.B let me get what you are saying he did not know if caught he could go to jail and away from the same kids, who knows how long he been doing this when crime is committed we tend to pick and choose when these perpetrators should be punished the sorry thing is someone on here going to read this and see the amount he has to pay with no job and will still keep doing their wrong remember I said these same exact words the last time the young lady from Portsmouth was caught, to every action there’s a reaction and that 1,500 is it. I guess his kids was not hungry cause he did not take the stolen items home.
You are such a hypocrite. You go to hell and back to defend those dishonest , thriving politicians yet you come here most sanctimonious Real Porssie to condemn and bury a guy for stealing a few hot dogs. Did you condemn those involved in the garbage bin Bobo or the fertilizer bibol. To every action there is a reaction and your reaction towards the siting dishonest politicians is to keep being dushonest. That is why you are high up on the hypocrisy scale or order.
@ Mamizoo no am not, for one I have no idea what really went down with that I hear piece here piece there but knowing what I know now and how you all tend to twist the truth I guess I will never know the real truth. the fertilizer I have no idea about, so please could you direct me to where I can go back and read an un-biased report on what you speak of? this is where we fail society we take one alleged story and try to let someone else get away with the wrong that person did. If what you say is true what I never get is even if you return the money someone should still have to answer in court, did anyone go to court in that case and if not why did that not happen? PS I have my own mind so I do things the right way I live by the sweat of my brow I never take what is not mine or what is not given to me, so who ever wish to do that it’s on the, are you not wicked to vouch for the DAAS fiasco? please you people think theirs no God one day we all have to pay today is his tomorrow is yours and mine so stay calm and hold everyone responsible for their wrong or right doings.
The big hunchos get a slap on the risk but the two guys have to pay all this money,such a damn joke in this country.
They should give the man an break for handling stolen goods because he has three children. I know someone who got a break for eating stolen cow meat but was given a break because she had three children.
As the owner I would have handled that differently. After 16 years of services I would not have involved the police. Everyone deserves a second chance.
Man loses job over hotdogs what about a man not losing his job over Land transfer fees not paid?
or overvalued bins
He should not steal from his employers. Where is he going to get the money to pay the fine now that he is unemployed . Fine la to haut.
Mind Ur business ALU to in front
what a shame for a box of hotdogs. alas. Malcolm Stevens is not a greedy man. This business always sponsors and helps the poor.
I would jail the thief
Until you find out he is some relative of yours, or until similar comes to your living room. It’s not what is done in the publics’ eye which makes us good people, it”s what we do that only God, us and the persons involved knows that makes us good people. Malcolm Steven could have just fired the guy. Right now his reputation is tarnished, it’s not going to be easy to find another job.
so true and he should reflect and revisit how he started his business.
Boy the country really tight eh……