The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A CUSTODIAL sentence would not suffice as punishment for a man who admitted to causing more than $1 million worth of damage to asphalt on John F Kennedy Drive last month, a magistrate said yesterday.

Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis told 53-year-old Thomas Alexander Rigby – who during his July 18 court appearance pleaded not guilty to causing damage – that the question of his punishment will be referred to Supreme Court.

The judge suggested that Rigby be fined no less than $250,000 for his actions and that a portion of any salaries he makes in the future be paid to the government.

Rigby, who was scheduled to stand trial on September 16, told the Magistrate Rolle-Davis he was aware that what he did was wrong and that he caused embarrassment for the government and Bahamians.

He was charged with intentionally damaging 8,700 ft of surface material valued at $1,211,396.67, the property of the Bahamas government between July 6 and July 12.

He pleaded not guilty on July 18 and was denied bail after the prosecution objected “in the best interest of the public”.

The magistrate asked Rigby for an explanation yesterday when he returned to change his plea to guilty.

Rigby said that on the day of his arraignment, he denied the allegation because he was hoping to be granted affordable bail so he could secure his property.

Yesterday, he said, “I do admit to the offence.”

Rigby said when he first started working on the road project, he was paid every fortnight.

However over time, he said, he was not paid and was avoided by his bosses on numerous occasions.

Rigby said he continued working in hopes that he would be paid eventually – until he could not take working for free anymore.

“I know what I did was wrong, I admit,” the man said, adding that he didn’t want to waste the court’s time and was sorry for the inconvenience he caused.

“I plead guilty and beg for leniency and mercy,” the man concluded.

Magistrate Rolle-Davis accepted the guilty plea and formally convicted the accused.

However, instead of sentencing the man, the magistrate noted that the custodial sentence he could give in the lower court would not suffice.

Rigby was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison until his appearance in Supreme Court next week.