Brief Facts
On February 12, 2023, Ryan Meade a customer of Weforward Freight Master who hails from the community of Grand Bay ordered one Power Acoustic RZ4 200D 2000-WATT 4/2 Channel Class Razor Car Amplifier at US205.64 on EBAY and had it shipped via Weforward Freight Master Dominica.
On March 1, 2023, he received a call from Weforward that his item was on the island and that he should come to the establishment to pay EC$267.00 so that the paperwork could be done in order for him to receive his item. Which he did.
After a few days, he returned to the business place and enquired about his item but was informed that it was “not on the island” and that the company would be investigating to find out the whereabouts of his item.
After conducting their own investigations, on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, a report of “theft” was made at the Roseau Police Station and Constable Mickael Desbonnes was detailed to investigate.
Constable Desbonnes had a conversation with Ryan Meade who gave him certain information and handed him a receipt for the payment that he had made to the said business place to clear his item. The Officer was also handed an invoice in relation to the item and a customs declaration form.
Later that same day, Constable Desbonnes went to DEPEX Colour Lab where he had a conversation with Rashid Alexander an employee of Weforward Freight Master, and invited him to accompany him to the Roseau Police Station which he did. At the Roseau Police Station, he was informed of the report of “theft” that the Officer was investigating, and after being cautioned, replied, “Officer, I did not steal an Amp, the Amp in my vehicle, I purchased it from a cousin for four hundred dollars.” The officer then informed him that he was arresting him on suspicion of theft, and he was searched and placed in police cells.
At the Magistrate’s court before Magistrate Hansel Valarie, he pleaded guilty to the charge of theft.
Sentencing
Before handing down the sentence on Alexander, Magistrate Valarie admonished him for his actions telling him that, ‘this a serious offense that carries a stiff penalty of seven (7) years in jail.”
“You have been very fortunate that you were not charged for forgery since you in fact forged documents and this is an indictable offense,” he said. He explained to him that the offense that he was charged with will hurt and hunt him as it relates to employment, but he has an opportunity to “bounce back.”
“Tell yourself that this was a mistake and will never happen again…the sentence of the court is a fine of EC$2,000.00 to be paid on or before June 30, 2023, in default two (2) years in jail.”