Anthonio Mason told the Serious Offences Court on Monday that he damaged a cellular phone because the owner of the phone owed him for drugs.
The Barrouallie man was charged with damaging a black Iswag cellular phone valued EC$400, without lawful excuse.
The Court heard that Mason knew the complainant very well, and around 3:40 p.m. on March 4, he met the complainant in Kingstown, took away his phone, and damaged it. He handed back the phone to the complainant when he was approached by the police, then fled.
He was subsequently arrested and charged with damage to property.
When asked by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne why he damaged the complainant’s phone, Mason said, “He owe me two gran ($2,000) since 2020, and pushing me around until now”.
When the Magistrate asked him what the complainant owed him for, Mason replied, “He owe me two gran for drugs. Me and he been wrestling, and I told him gey me something and I will give him phone”.
The Magistrate said Mason was making an allegation about a transaction in relation to something which is illegal, and he does not have the jurisdiction to deal with that.
“The phone is damaged. You said guilty. I just hope it does not go any further,” Browne told Mason before ordering him to pay compensation in the sum of $400 by October 7 or one month in prison, for damaging the phone.