A Marigot man, employed as a security officer at the Planning Division, has been fined for stealing items which include a World Creole Music Festival (WCMF) season ticket and two cameras, one belonging to a local and the other to a Japanese volunteer working with the government.
The incident took place at the Planning Division on October 28,2011. He appeared before a Roseau Magistrate on Tuesday.
Kertist Baptiste pleaded guilty to the crimes which Magistrate Candia George views as “serious.”
“It’s a sad day when a security needs a security,” she told the court before sentencing the defendant.
According to the details of the case which were presented by the police prosecutor, the complainants Glenroy Mason and Japanese national Ron Nagai had placed their WCMF season tickets in a desk at the division on October 27. The other items were placed there the following day.
When they returned on Friday 28, October at about 6 p.m. to pick up the items, they realized they were missing. After inquiring about it, the complainants’ became suspicious of Baptiste as they had seen him on duty in the room.
They contacted the police who investigated, met the defendant and questioned him on October 30,2011. He first denied the crime but after further investigations the police were able to get a confession.
“Officer I don’t know what that pass through my head,” he told police. He revealed that he had sold the festival ticket for $180 and bought food with the money. He told police that he gave a friend of his to hold unto one of the cameras for him. He denied knowing about a second camera.
Only the camera belonging to Nagai was recovered. The ticket cost $325 while Nagai’s camera was valued at US $1,000 and Mason’s $1,335 EC.
Baptiste was ordered to pay compensation of $1,886.95 by December 31,2011 to Mason or he spends four months in prison. He was also fined $1,500 to be paid by February 28, 2012 or he spends three months in prison and second fine of $2,000 to be paid by April 30, 2012or he spends six months in prison.
This is Baptiste’s first offense. He resides in Fond Cole.
Before I even continue to read the story, I am thinking that this Marigot man must have a name. It is if the key word here is Marigot. Or probably, something like ” A young man from the village of Marigot…..”.
what about de red jel cochon wife beating security in the windsor park stadium.
His day coming soon too
need back ground check
Last month two parcels of smoke chicken valued at $20.00 each was stolen on a table outside my office.I made a novena for 9 days that the culprit be caught.I hope this is the result otherwise we will have to guard the guards
A security officer stealing? What else is new? Some of those in such authority do the exact thing. They may not be caught.
I like to point out that this is a worldwide situation. They cannot be trusted. He is fortunate that he was not jailed. I do believe that he should have been imprisoned for some months at least. This would have taught him a lesson.
Pertaining to securing such items, the desk drawers should have had locks. The owners of the items should have known better. They took too much for granted. When such items are left unsecured, it is a temptation for some people who may be in need of. All the same stealing is wrong. He has to repay them and no one should feel compassionate for him in this case. He had a responsible job and he should have conducted himself accordingly. He committed the crime, he has to pay for it and repay the victims. The magistrate let him off easy. Cased closed.
there a times employer needs to know the type of people the are employing.
they have a vacancy,ask that person to get a police record it is ok and that just it.they will not make a back ground check on the person .i condemn the act of stealling.
In this case the Police Record would not help. This was his first offense.It really boils down to something that can not be seen or detected. It’s CHARACTER , WILL POWER AND YOUR CONSCIENCE. No POLICE RECORD can really compliment , or high light these.
imagine he is a security officer,securing his pocket,he lucky if he was in one of them islamic countries,they would go with one of his hands,your job is to protect from property damage,instead you are a damage,no wonder why,mcmillan,cokes factory and them other places that get rob not hireing security guards,they rather be victims,to unknown assailants,than those they trust.
Yes, it’s his “first offense” but, for God’s sake, the guy is entrusted with security. Would we say the same for a police officer who violates the law for the first time? We need to imprison these guys to send a message to others. His firm and their insurance should pay for restitution through mediation or civil suit.
Let’s contrast that with the guy who stole two bottles of night train wine and a small bottle of coffee. Yes, he was a habitual offender but he has already paid his dues for the previous offenses and that particular offense was petty. The punishment was over the top. Our criminal justice system does more to protect the private business sector than individuals who suffer personal injury.
he had a job and he ruin it because of his sticky fingers…learn to see people things and leave them alone.
WHO GUARDING DE GUARD.AND WHO GUARDING SKERRIT.
15 years jail please. a security officer is a thief?
“He first denied the crime but after further investigations the police were able to get a confession.” Meaning Ofcorse after the beat him (Torture) sad that in this modern day and time we still torture people.
hmmm. honestly readers i feel sorry for him. he got a heavy charge.another 6m of his salary is to pay those charges.what about his bills.poor thing. I am not giving him an excuse to steal because it is not right to do, but we have all done it at some time in our lives and we all must have been caught at some point in time, right? Except for the professional thieves. They confirmed he is a first time offender but they did not joke to put the charges on him. alas. he will learn and good lesson for others.
I think he must have given the second camera to a girlfriend…
Man it is not the first time thiefing. he used to that. Some Dominican have to much sticky fingers and envieuse. they to like people thing. Job so hard to find and you blowing yours up for a concert ticket and a camera? shame on you.
It’s a real shame! Those security firms just picking up any neg on the road and giving them security uniform and sending them to guard people place!!!! Those real qualified persons who want security job are being refused.
Tell the Minister responsible reinstate all public officers who are on suspension! Man on suspension for over 5 years and on half pay!! Man want to work!!!
If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.
from rolex to tickets and camara
ppl do armed robberies and other camaras
ppl brokes in that country
that is just the one that got caught.
WHAT DID U STEAL FOR YOR CELEBRATIONS.
ALMIGHTY gOD,please bless our beloved land I pray thee,I’m up here singing the praises of my country but it’s becoming just like here,who ever heard of security officers needing security to guard them? this one must have been very desperate,temptation is a very dangerous thing,yeild not people guard your heart and your mind smh!who am I to judge you? we all need the power of the Holy Spirit!
I hate criminals with a passion, but at the same time, Dominica is not heaven. Don’t make it sound like all our people should be saints. We are going to have a few bad apples. Don’t make a federal case out of it. You are too dramatic.
what a shame. sakway vole. we need guards to guard our guards, partner first you need to respect yourself.
hmmm, 5 course meal he was craving man?lol bad rep for our country, he just decreased the amounts of visitors for next yr… if u know u weak y take d job…damn….some men of today what is wrong with u guys?
they were not visitors they worked for planing read properly shame on him however
what are future visitors guna thin when we stealing from each other,,,,,we wnt think twice when they come
wow…. i wonder if he know how to use those hi-tech cameras dere lol… that’s just a bad rap all around eh… why should u as a security guard do something like that… if u have sticky fingers u shouldn’t be in that biz…. i don’t know much jobs/careers that have more dedicated men and women than security… these people take their job serious as little as the pay may be… and the thought of stealing maybe the last thing on their mind…
everyboy in d country stealin now.
from government to college students to security guard
who will guard d guards
the camera lol
I hope Planning do not fire this guy..he needs the job to pay all those fines..hehehehhehehehehehhehehe
u stole to buy food? hmmm! very sad indeed!
obviously he had to say something to defend his self so he proberbly used that as his defense so they maybe would have felt sorry for him
He lie!!!! The man go festival!