Senior citizen pays dearly for bailing man

An elderly man who stood as surety for a Corporate Area citizen was forced to use his pension to pay off a bail bond after Jamar Douglas, the man he bailed, absconded.

Douglas, who has been charged with unlawful wounding and was offered bail in the sum of $150,000. However, he has missed several court dates and as a result a warrant has since been issued for his arrest.

The elderly man, Vincent Williams, who stood as surety, was called on by the court to pay off the bond. On Thursday he handed over $15,000 to the State in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. It was the last in a series of payment made by Williams to settle his obligation, which was in excess of $50,000.

"I used off my pension to pay this. I need back my money," he muttered, as he sat in the well of the courtroom.

Williams signalled his intention to begin civil litigation, in efforts to redeem the more than $50,000 he was forced to pay for bond.

"How can I get back my money, Your Honour?," Williams quizzed presiding judge Carlo Mason.

"Sir, I don't know. You would have to go to the Sutton Street Court (a location of the parish court, that hears civil matters) and get a lawyer," the judge reasoned.