A senior judge has suggested that a 21-year-old who admitted to stealing almost $500,000 from her employer should speak to teenagers about the dangers of crime.
Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell was aggrieved following utterances by a business operator who claimed that the defendant, Shamala Cotterell, stole $420,000 from her establishment over a period of time.
“I am giving you to the probation officers and maybe they may have to arrange for you to go to your [past] school to give a speech about stealing. Maybe she needs to tell students about running in with the law,” the judge suggested. Cotterell, who pleaded guilty to embezzlement, was only indicted by prosecutors in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court for $41,7000.
“I gave her chances and I even had her on a payment plan,” the complainant shared with the judge.
“How could you? Your employer gave you chances. You are young and I think you are fortunate to be brought here. Your employer gave you chances but you are a greedy girl,” Burrell told Cotterell. The defendant made restitution to the complainant and hung her head, agreeing with the judge that she embarrassed her family.
“You need to work on yourself. You may to have to hang it in your room or over your bed, ‘I cannot go back to court. I cannot steal again. I cannot go back to Ms Burrell because she will send me to prison.’ Do not come back here,” the judge counselled.
Cotterell was made the subject of a fingerprint order and a probation order for two years. Burrell also told her not to let this incident define her future.
Source: THE STAR
