An accused electronics thief in an attempt to justify his action told the court that “I always working for the man and he doesn’t pay me”.
Twenty-eight-year-old Lenny Langlais pleaded guilty before Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste last week to stealing over $1,000 worth of electronics from a residence in Gutter.
According to the charge, Langlais stole a transformer worth $150, DVD player worth $550, flash drive costing $ 168.70, a CD case costing $6.50 and 63 CD’s costing $220 from Michael Nelson’s home on July 22, 2010.
According to the facts of the case presented by the police prosecutor, Nelson had secured his home and went to St Aroment to spend the weekend, but returned to meet his main entrance door opened at about 10:30 a.m. on July 22.
He went inside and saw that the said items were missing. He then made a report to the police.
When confronted by officers, Langlais admitted to the crime.
“I admit I do this. I wrong. I will take my wrong. If is jail I have to go I will take my jail. If is pay I have to pay I will pay it,” he told police.
Magistrate Baptiste questioned his mental fitness based on his responses in the court and ordered that a psychological evaluation be done on him.
However Langlais claimed he saw a psychiatrist last month.
“You not well, are you?” the magistrate asked, to which he responded “No. Headache I have”.
Langlais is due to reappear in court on August 12, 2010.
Some Dominican men are LAZY and use any excuse to steal. The amount of cases of theft by men is out of control. They always have an excuse. They just DO NOT want to work! What about the case with the worker/convicted thief Leonard Pond from Canefield Housing Scheme, who was power washing the person’s yard and broke and open the house to steal electronic items? What is his excuse? Perhaps we should do like the Middle East and cut off the thief’s hand when they steal, instead of the mild slap on the wrist like community service given by the chief magistrate to grown men who know better. There should be no sympathy for a thief
And please do not use the excuse that the prison is filled so they have to give them community service. They do the crime so they must do the time, even if the cell is packed with them like sardines, too bad; so they will not want to return. It is because jail is so comfortable, so they are happy to keep breaking the law and going back there for their 3 meals a day, at taxpayers expense. The magistrate is making it easier for them. Where is justice for the victim?
Also reporters, why is it always the address of the victim that is published? Your job is to report accurately and give balanced information. Please put the names and addresses of the criminals in the news item so neighbours and the public can be made aware that there is a convicted criminal in their midst. It is time for the Legal Affairs department to start a criminal register in Dominica. We need to know who those criminals are, we are all at risk.
You want him to go through court through the legal process. who is going to pay for his legal fees? Is there even legal aid or right to be represented by a lawyer if one cannot afford one ?
I WAS AN ACCOUNTANT WORKING FOR GOVERNMENT. I WAS ALSO A BAD-MAN SINCE I WAS BORN IN THE GHETTO. THIS GUY AFTER TAKING 2 DAYS TO CUT THE GRASS IN MY YARD,I TOOK MY GUN AND RUN HIM WITHOUT PAYING HIM.TO THIS DAY I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM AGAIN….BUT WHAT HAPPEN TO ME…. 7 YEARS AFTER I LOST EVERY THING I HAD I BECOME A MAD MAN LIVING IN A SHACK,NO FRIENDS NO FAMILY. AND THEREFORE RESORTED TO CUTTING GRASS FOR PEOPLE. THE SECOND JOB I DID, THE PEOPLE RUN ME THE WAY I DID THE GUY WITHOUT PAY.I WENT HOME I SAT IN THE DARK AND I REALISE WHAT A MISTAKE I MADE 7 YEAS AGO. AND GOT MYSELF 7 YEARS IN HELL. .WHAT I LEARNT.DO NOT PLAY WITH ANOTHER MAN SWEAT. I AM A MILLIONAIRE NOW. BUT STILL LOVE BEING MAD. BLESS UP.
now when he goes to court how long does he have to wait before he gets paid,
There is a God and Only him can Judge Us. Be Fair a man work He must be PAID..
there is a remedy called self-help. It is good that some people recognized the injustice in the situation. If the guy genuinely worked he should have been paid.
@Makes so much sense:
Sure you make no sense at all. Dominica is not a lawless country that is why there is laws. If you work for someone and you did not receive your proper wages or no wages, there are legal procedures as to how you can be compensated for your labor. Breaking into someone private home and stealing from them as your way of compensation for your labor is not the way to go, that is called burglary, thrift and is punishable under the law. There is a saying “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance”
go to court
don’t take the law in your hand mr . go to cout
A lot of people saying Dominicans “LAZY” and the man working hard for his money and yet still the guy he working for not paying the man his ca$h owed to him for his hard work, so the man saw it fit to compensate himself with the goods at the home for his work services he was never paid for!!! Some people to like to take advantage of vulnerable people!
I agree with the man, i work so pay me, if you do want to pay me i will take my payment worth, i just would have done it differentely, cuz i telling u is my money i want i would not wait for him to go nah, i taking it infront him sefl, call the po po, then he would explain to them why i taking his stuff, some of people to like to expliot others, i know how it feels so I would not do that to somebody else.
And Ms. Chief Magistrate always there with her ruling, all they suppose to charge the man for is for breaking and entering nothing else, and well except if he gwan sell them things already.
Why is it that so many Dominicans are being EXPLOITED? Now when they do what they have to do they are considered mad and crazy. The judge should make the man keep the items until he’s paid for the work he did. It’s time these people learn a lesson.
I do not know all the facts surrounding the case,but “garson pay the man,if he genuinely worked for you”.I close my big mouth there..
a lot more should do that to cause them man do want to pay when you work for them so take your money worth
i agree wit the man boi