By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE Court of Appeal yesterday quashed the conviction of a contractor found guilty of stealing electricity from the Bahamas Electricity Corporation.
The decision of Justices Anita Allen, Neville Adderley and Jon Isaacs came three months after former Bahamas Contractor’s Association president, Stephen Wrinkle, contested the magistrate’s ruling from January 2013.
Wrinkle has been on $2,000 bail for two years while awaiting the hearing of his appeal.
Justice Isaacs, who announced the court’s ruling on the matter, said the appeal was allowed because “we’re satisfied that the element of dishonesty was not made out … the crucial element of the charge”.
The judge noted that the panel’s reasons were set out in the judgment. However, the ruling was not available up to press time yesterday.
Wrinkle had been fined $1,000 and sentenced to a year in prison for dishonest consumption of electricity after being told that his actions between February and March 2011 were “inexcusable”.
Prosecutors alleged that he stole power for the Bayparl Building, Parliament Street, which he managed for Parliament Properties Ltd. Wrinkle had maintained his innocence from his arraignment in June 2011 to his conviction in January 2013.
At the substantive hearing in February, Wrinkle’s lawyer, Murrio Ducille, argued that the trial magistrate erred in law in allowing his client to answer to the charge, notwithstanding the Crown’s failure to establish sufficient evidence to mount the charge.
He further informed the court that there was a dispute over outstanding balances and consumption on the two meters, which led BEC to address a letter to Mr Wrinkle, notwithstanding that he did not own the building.
Crown respondent Anthony Delaney had told the court that the two meters were not registered to BEC where power was being consumed. And though he conceded that BEC did install the meters, he added that negligence did not make stealing electricity right.
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 7 months ago
This matter was a complete waste of the Court's precious time and resources. Had Wrinkle been wrongful convicted at the end of the day, there likely would have been one helluva firestorm of ultra sensitive information about the inner workings of BEC, Leslie Miller, Brave, Maynard-Gibson, Franky Wilson and Christie made public in our newspapers and the social media. The deluge of sensitive information made public would have overwhelmed the Bahamian people. Come to think of it, things may have been better for the Bahamas in the long run had Wrinkle wrongfully been made to spend some serious time in prison.
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
From what I've heard and read it leaves me believe an injustice against Comrade Wrinkle-Dinkle was justly lighted-up. Besides da Comrade Justices Neville, Anita and Jon's would have been hard pressed not to have taken into account, all the sufficient evidence that Wrinkle--Dinkle couldn't possibly be guilty of thieving no lights by reason extension cord, cuz BEC ain't got's none him or anyone else thief. Some are accused stealing lights but later found to be not guilty, while the politically connected gets lights, yet they still owes BEC big-time lights they done burns? I is besides myself on why that is possible?
themessenger 9 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Tal if you haven't already read it, I highly recommend Orwell's Animal Farm as a glowing portrait of we guvments, both past and most especially the present.
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
Comrade isn't one George's essays where he affirms that “political language is designed to make lies?
Hogfish 9 years, 7 months ago
Miller ever finish payin he light bill? remember the 100k in laundered CASH he paid (agaist BEC own rules!!) but that still left him owing $150K !!!
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
Another great example that only poor people go to jail ............................ but I like your comment Hogfish ......................... LOL
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