Mother of two swipes liquor worth $200,000

A mother of two who stole more than $200,000 worth of liquor on consignment was yesterday offered bail in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

The defendant, Kezia Griffiths, had been in custody for 10 months as she failed to begin compensation and had cases in St Ann, Hanover, Westmoreland and St Mary for the same offence.

It was reported that Griffiths and her co-accused made several orders for liquor on consignment, which was delivered by the complainant on June 16. The accused was told to return the unused items or pay the outstanding bill of $211,000. Neither the money nor the liquor has been recovered to date.

Griffiths pleaded with Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque for bail, submitting that she would like to return to selling jeans in the downtown business district to assist with repaying the complainant.

"Just for the sake of my mommy Your Honour. If it pleases you Your Honour, I am just asking if you can consider bail so I can help her with the children's back-to-school [shopping] because is August now and is she alone. I would like to finish making payment," a tearful Griffiths begged. Her mother had presented $120,000 in court as first payment.

"Look at the tears of your mother, look at what you are putting your mother through. Show me some more money and that will put you in better standing to approach me on bail," said Cole-Montaque. Griffiths then asked permission to talk to her mother to facilitate an additional $50,000 to be paid in court. The request was granted and after an hour, the money was presented.

Griffiths was offered $100,000 bail with at least two sureties. She is to report to the police twice weekly and must surrender her travel documents. A stop order was also put in place and she must return to court on September 29.

- T.T.