A young woman, who was on training at a juice company but returned and stole $11,000 after she quit, told the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court that the money she took was owed to her, after disputing the amount.
Aniece Prendergast, who was arrested and charged with simple larceny, admitted to taking the money from the cash register at the company but claimed she took only $6,000 as she was not paid upon leaving the company.
“What a thing tho,” Parish Judge Maxine Ellis uttered.
The young woman’s lawyer, Michelle Thomas, explained that her client had asked her employer to pay over the money but it was not forthcoming.
“So who is going to settle the discrepancy,” the judge then asked.
Thomas in reply pointed out that other persons had access to the cash register, but was told by the judge not to go down that route.
Turning to Prendergast, Judge Ellis said: “Most persons who are separated from their job they write a letter and ask for what they are owed. They don’t go and take it.
“Why you believe you should go and give yourself the money?” the judge further asked.
The complainant, who was present, then explained that Lawrence had signed a contract to undergo two weeks training as she did not have all the qualifications for the position at the company. She further pointed out that the agreement was for her to be paid a stipend of $6,000 after completing the training but she quit before the end date.
The complainant told the court that Prendergast, prior to her departure, had been reprimanded several times for her behaviour to superiors and for late coming.
“She did not turn up one day but call the next day demanding money, so I told her to come in for a meeting and on that day she was late. After I call her, she sent a text with all kinds of words saying she is not afraid to go back to jail,” the complainant said in court.
Prendergast, however, told the court that she did not sign a contract and that the only paper she signed was the application form.
The judge, however, asked her if she is willing to repay the complainant the money that she took and she complied. A date was set for her to return to court for sentencing on March 13.
